Reyes, Janssen look ready to begin rehab stints

BALTIMORE -- Jose Reyes and Casey Janssen appear headed to Florida for rehab assignments. If all goes well, Reyes might be able to return to the team by the time the Blue Jays make it to Cleveland on Friday for the final part of their nine-game road trip.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said that, if everything's approved, the two players would fly to Florida on Sunday and start doing some work with Class A Dunedin. Reyes (hamstring) would probably start playing in a game on Monday, but Gibbons wasn't yet sure about the plan for Janssen (back/abdominal) -- although it looks like Monday or Tuesday for him also.

Gibbons said he doesn't think this should be a long-term thing for Reyes in Florida, but they just need to keep an eye on how the shortstop fares.

"I don't think he's going to need many [games]," Gibbons said. "But [we] just kind of have to see how that first one [goes and] kind of gage it and see how he's doing. I think probably, hopefully we'll get him back in Cleveland."

Reyes ran again before Saturday's game with the Orioles, this time testing the sore hamstring by racing around the bases in different ways, and he felt very good about it afterwards.

"I was good," Reyes said. "I'm close."

He has been out since the first inning of the first game of the season in Tampa Bay, and the Blue Jays have missed his bat at the top of their lineup.

Janssen hasn't pitched yet. He has been on the disabled list since March 29, but threw Saturday and, like Reyes, was happy with the results after tossing about 35 pitches.

"It felt good," Janssen said. "I think I pretty much threw as hard as I could without facing a hitter. I threw a full warm-up and then threw like I was throwing to a couple hitters. Didn't hold back [and] felt fine. It was just a good bullpen [session]."

Janssen said he's not exactly sure how many outings would be needed on rehab, but he said two could be enough. He said, however, that they'll just see how everything plays out.