Myers set to begin rehab stint at Triple-A

CINCINNATI -- This is going to end up being a very short road trip for Padres center fielder Wil Myers, who flew with the team to Cincinnati on Thursday but won't need to unpack his bags.

Myers, who on Friday missed his 23rd game on the disabled list with left wrist tendinitis, will likely fly to Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon to join the Padres' Triple-A affiliate to begin his much-anticipated rehabilitation stint.

Myers took approximately 75 swings Friday afternoon on the field at the Great American Ball Park and pronounced that his wrist felt fine.

Later, manager Bud Black told reporters that if Myers' batting practice session on Saturday goes well, he'll head to Las Vegas to join Triple-A El Paso for a series.

"It was another good day for Wil, as far as how he felt … very encouraging," Black said. "We'll get him back in the groove."

Video: CHC@SD: Black on Myers' wrist, placing him on DL

It didn't sound as if Myers would need much time in the Minor Leagues.

"There's not a set number [of at-bats] we want to give him. We're going to see the quality of at-bats. Every player is different in regard to the number of at-bats they need," Black said. "But my thoughts on Wil is he might not need as many at-bats."

Myers hasn't played since May 10. He injured his wrist in a game the day before against the D-backs. He was diagnosed with tendinitis near the extensor carpi ulnaris, a muscle located on the little finger's side of the forearm that is used to extend the wrist.

He was only able to start hitting off a tee for the first time on May 30. It's only in the last week where Myers hasn't had any pain in the wrist. On Wednesday, he hit on the field at Petco Park before a game.

"Everything has felt good," Myers said Friday. "I took about 40 swings in batting practice and went through my full routine and took about [a total of] 75 swings. I was swinging hard."

Myers said that in addition to getting acclimated to live pitching again and testing his wrist in games, he'll use his time in the Minor Leagues to test his eyes -- tracking pitches, tracking the spin of pitches, particularly breaking balls.

He wasn't certain how many games he would need before he's ready to rejoin the big league team.

"I hope it won't take that long," Myers said.

Myers has frequently been standing in as a batter and watching pitchers when starting pitchers throw their between-starts bullpen sessions. On Friday, he did so when James Shields threw his bullpen.

"He's been able to do some things physically -- he's running, he's playing defense, he's moving around the diamond," Black said. "Now it's just a matter of the at-bats to get his timing back and see if the wrist is 100 percent."

The Padres are 10-12 without Myers and have hit .238 as a team. Myers, who is hitting .291 with five home runs and 19 RBIs, was leading the Padres in hits and runs at the time he was placed on the disabled list.