Dirks on track, resumes light baseball activities

DETROIT -- According to manager Brad Ausmus, outfielder Andy Dirks has started "the very beginnings of baseball activities."

Dirks is on the 60-day disabled list, recovering from microdisectomy surgery on his back. Ausmus said the average time for a return from the surgery is about three months, which would have Dirks back in action sometime in June. He appears to be on track.

"I texted him the other day," Ausmus said. "He threw the other day for the first time, and he can take dry swings -- just swing a bat easy. So that's where he's at."