Machado set to begin rehab assignment

TORONTO -- Manny Machado will begin his highly-anticipated rehab assignment on Friday for Class A Advanced Frederick as the Orioles third baseman works toward a return early next month.

Manager Buck Showalter said the organization will wait two or three days after Machado is with Frederick and see where he is after that before determining the rest of his timeline. He will go to either Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk from there, with the O's hopeful Machado won't need to use the full 20 days given to position players on rehab assignments.

"Our plan is for him to start playing there and then see what his needs are," Showalter said. "You can look at the schedule and see what we're thinking. … But we will see what his needs are competition-wise."

Machado served at designated hitter as scheduled Tuesday in an extended spring game and will play seven innings at third base on Wednesday. He is slated to travel back to Frederick on Thursday. The 21-year-old All-Star is coming off of October's left knee surgery.