Quentin headed to Arizona to continue rehab

SAN DIEGO -- Outfielder Carlos Quentin, who has yet to play in a game because of a bone bruise in his left knee, will head to Arizona on Monday to continue his on-field work as he eyes a return.

The Padres begin a 10-game road trip Monday in Milwaukee, meaning Quentin will head to the team's Spring Training facility to continue his baseball-related activities.

What does this mean for Quentin's potential return to the big leagues?

"That's usually the last step before he's cleared to a rehab assignment," said Padres manager Bud Black.

Quentin has spent much of this home stand taking batting practice on the field before games and doing some shagging of fly balls in the outfield. He has played long toss and has done about everything other than run on the knee.

He suffered the bone bruise making a sliding catch in a Spring Training game on March 18.

"Carlos is doing better," Black said. "He'll continue to ramp up activity and is closer to getting into the full swing of things."

The Padres' offense could certainly use Quentin's bat.

Going into Friday's game, the Padres were tied with the Cubs for the fewest runs scored in the Major Leagues (45).

"Our averages have to come up. You look at our averages as a group … they're well below guys' career averages," Black said after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Rockies. "We're talking less than 60 at-bats. But we need to elevate those averages."