Furcal begins rehab assignment with Class A Jupiter
MIAMI -- As the Marlins faced off against the Nationals at Marlins Park on Monday night, Rafael Furcal began his rehab assignment at Class A Jupiter.
Furcal went 1-for-1 with two walks and a run scored the Hammerheads' 12-3 win.
Furcal, who opened the season on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain, was expected to play five innings at Jupiter, Fla., and be back in action continually for three weeks.
"The plan is for him to hopefully play every day," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "We hope he continues to feel good. He will be there all week."
After a week at Jupiter, the club is considering sending the 36-year-old to Double-A Jacksonville next week.
The maximum amount of rehab-assignment days for position players is 20 days.
Redmond said the team anticipates Furcal to use pretty much his entire allotment. If that is the case, the earliest he would join the Marlins is May 6 against the Mets at Marlins Park.
Furcal, a proven veteran, signed as a free agent in the offseason to be the everyday second baseman.
Also on Monday, the team said infielder Ed Lucas, who broke his left hand late in Spring Training, was cleared to do baseball activities.
"We'll just kind of monitor him on how that hand is feeling," Redmond said. "We'll see how much activity he can do day to day."
Right-hander Jacob Turner, who was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday, retroactive to April 4, is recovering from a right shoulder sprain.
Turner, who opened the season as the fourth starter, will play catch on Tuesday, and build back up from there.
"He's feeling much better than he has," Redmond said.
Marcell Ozuna fouled a ball off the top of his left foot on Sunday at Philadelphia, but he stayed in the game. On the plane ride back to Miami, however, he was on crutches. The center fielder was given Monday off. He's feeling better, and took batting practice with the rest of the club on Monday.
Christian Yelich started in center field on Monday, with Reed Johnson in left field.