Federowicz's recovery ahead of schedule

PITTSBURGH -- On Wednesday, Tim Federowicz will be four months removed tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee.

Federowicz, the Padres' catcher who suffered the injury in a Spring Training game on March 8, said his recovery and rehabilitation haven't exactly flown by.

"In my mind, it's been slow," Federowicz said.

In reality, though, Federowicz's recovery has gone faster and smoother than he could have ever hoped for, so much so that after passing a notable physical test Monday, he could be on a Minor League rehabilitation assignment next week.

"It's been good. I'm quite a bit ahead of where I should be right now," Federowicz said Monday, before the Padres opened a three-game series at PNC Park against the Pirates.

San Diego interim manager Pat Murphy said Federowicz will catch Brandon Morrow's simulated game on Saturday when the team is in Texas to face the Rangers. If all goes well, he'll head out on a rehab stint the following week.

"We were more concerned a few days ago, and he's come through the testing very well," Murphy said.

At the time of his surgery on March 13, Federowicz -- pegged to be the backup catcher to Derek Norris -- was told he could be sidelined up to six months. But four months later, he's about set to play in games.

"I am [excited] … I've just been kind of waiting to see how this blocking felt, and it felt a lot better than I expected, so that was a big checkmark today [Monday]," he said.

"Today was one of the last checkmarks. I got my blocking done, blocking side to side, doing my normal routine that I do before games. "

Once he begins his rehabilitation stint, Federowicz will have 20 days before the team needs to add him to the big league roster.

"They want me to be able to catch right away. We want to make sure maybe the last four days I'm catching three out of those four games, full nine innings, no problems," he said.