PITTSBURGH -- Injured Padres outfielder Jon Jay will head back to San Diego on Sunday and could resume full baseball activities by Monday if he's cleared by a doctor to begin swinging.
Jay, who broke his right forearm after being hit by a pitch in June, is ticketed to return to the Padres in late August or early September.
"I've been hitting one-handed, trying to get timing that way," Jay said. "I've been waiting to get clearance to start swinging with my right hand. Everything's been looking good so far. Hopefully Monday will be a big step for me."
Jay no longer has a cast on his arm and has been running, throwing and even catching fly balls -- albeit a bit unconventionally for a left-handed thrower.
"He's got his glove on his other hand, catching fly balls basically with his left hand," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You just can't contain him. He just wants to be on a baseball field."
The outfielders who greet Jay upon his return will be entirely different than the outfielders he left. Since Jay's injury, the Padres have dealt Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton Jr. and are starting a trio of rookies.
Travis Jankowski has since assumed Jay's role of everyday center fielder, and he'll retain that job when Jay returns. Jay, meanwhile, will play all three outfield positions, giving a routine respite to Jankowski, Jabari Blash and Alex Dickerson. The Padres' plan is for all four to play four or five days per week.
"When he returns, he's going to bounce around," Green said. "We truly don't have a real fourth outfielder right now, the way the roster's comprised. ... You look up, and he's got four or five starts a week at that rate, and he's able to finish up the year strong, show he's healthy. And he's able to rest those guys, too."
No matter where he plays, Jay is simply eager to get back on a baseball field.
"I've been able to keep my mental game strong, watching the games," Jay said. "I've done a good job healing, and hopefully I can get that final OK where I can start swinging."
Worth noting
• Jay will host a charity bowling event on Sunday, Aug. 21 at East Village Tavern & Bowl. The event, termed "BaseBowl," will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego. During the past five offseasons, Jay has put on a similar event in Miami, his hometown.
• It remains likely that right-hander Jon Edwards and second baseman Cory Spangenberg could play winter ball this year after injuries cost the duo most of the 2016 season. Green said he'd like to see the pair get the adequate reps, but first they need to be ruled healthy before winter ball starts.
Spangenberg is dealing with a strained left quad and hasn't played since April. Edwards hasn't played yet this season because of a flexor strain in his right elbow.