Roberts runs, hopes to go on rehab assignment soon

DETROIT -- Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts ran short, speedy bursts on the field prior to Tuesday's game, the last remaining step as he progresses back from right hamstring surgery, with the goal of going out on rehab assignment next week.

"[He] did pretty well with it," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I asked Brian, I said, 'What's the difference between pretty well and great?' I think sometimes it's a mentality. You had a piece taken out. Obviously it's just letting the body cover for it. ... I'm hoping when we get off this road trip, he's going out [on a rehab assignment]. We'll see."

Roberts will come in to work out on Thursday's off-day in Toronto, and he's made positive progress since joining the team in Baltimore earlier in June. Showalter said he thought being around the atmosphere of the other players has benefited Roberts, who was helped off the field on April 4.