Rehabbing Nunez advances to Double-A

MINNEAPOLIS -- Eduardo Nunez has moved up to Double-A Trenton as part of his Minor League rehabilitation assignment and could rejoin the Yankees at the big league level before the All-Star break.

"I think it's possible we'll get him before the break," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I think it depends on how he feels and how ready he feels he is. Our people will look at him and make a decision [about] when we can get him back."

Nunez has been sidelined with a strained left oblique since May 5. It has not been determined how long Nunez will play in Trenton; the Thunder hosts Double-A Reading in a 7:05 p.m. ET contest on Thursday.

Nunez opened the season as the Yankees' everyday shortstop in Derek Jeter's absence but was limited to 27 games, batting .200 with no homers and four RBIs. Girardi said that injuries have made the season a rough one for both Nunez and catcher Francisco Cervelli.

"That probably adds to their frustration," Girardi said. "It was a chance to play every day, a chance to kind of validate that you're an everyday player, and they've been hurt most of the time."