Maybin to start rehab with Triple-A El Paso

SAN DIEGO -- It still will be a while until the Padres are in one piece again, but outfielder Cameron Maybin shipped out to Triple-A El Paso on Friday and the club is hoping to see him sooner rather than later.

While outfielder Carlos Quentin and starter Josh Johnson are not close to returning, Maybin, who has been working at extended spring training, is expected to get a minimum of 20 at-bats for the Chihuahuas before the Padres consider bringing him back.

"Right now, he's restarting his Spring Training," manager Bud Black said. "He's in baseball shape. Now, we've got to get him in baseball-ready shape."

That will involve Maybin facing live pitching, playing nine innings at a time, sliding, hitting ... "the things you accomplish as a position player during 4 1/2 weeks of Spring Training," Black said.

Black said he would like to see Maybin, who ruptured the biceps muscle in his left arm while diving for a ball in early March, get "well over" 20 at-bats.