Schumaker begins rehab stint with Memphis

ST. LOUIS -- Skip Schumaker began a rehab stint with Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday in the first major step in his recovery from a right hamstring he injured on May 30.

Schumaker played five innings in center field and went 1-for-2 with a single and run scored for Memphis. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said on Wednesday that Schumaker was anxious to be playing again, and after Schumaker ran well in a workout with trainers on Tuesday, the club decided to give Schumaker an opportunity to play.

"That was the one test they wanted to get, and he didn't feel like he had anything more to prove except to get in there and play," Matheny said. "So they've got kind of a program lined up for him, as far as playing time goes, to get him back as quick as possible."

Matheny said there is a specific number of at-bats or innings that Schumaker will get while in Memphis. Schumaker will work his way up to playing in a full game, and how quickly that happens will be based simply on how he feels.

Schumaker was batting .321 with 12 RBIs in 29 games this season before he was placed on the 15-day DL on June 1.