MINNEAPOLIS -- Mark Teixeira will begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beginning on Tuesday, the Yankees announced.
Teixeira is expected to play in all three games of the RailRiders' series against Toledo, which runs through Thursday. He would then rest on Friday prior to being activated for Saturday's game against the Twins at Yankee Stadium, manager Joe Girardi said.
The 36-year-old Teixeira has been on the disabled list since June 4 with a right knee articular cartilage tear, which required injections of cortisone and lubricant products.
"Very excited," Teixeira said. "We really didn't know what to expect. We were hoping for the best and so far, it's been best-case scenario. We're hoping that the knee doesn't act up."
Teixeira will play first base on Tuesday, serve as the RailRiders' DH on Wednesday, then play first base again Thursday.
"I have to make sure that it bounces back; it would do me no good here if I can only play every other day," Teixeira said. "Three days will give us a good opportunity to test it."
It has been a difficult season for Teixeira, just one year after he was selected as an American League All-Star. In 48 games, Teixeira has batted .180 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.
"There's no excuses. When you're on the field, you have to perform," Teixeira said. "I'm going to put all that behind me whenever I get back on the field with the Yankees, because hopefully the injuries are behind me and I can just go out there and play, be healthy and produce."
In Teixeira's absence, the Yankees are platooning Ike Davis and Rob Refsnyder at first base. Because Teixeira is attempting to avoid season-ending surgery by playing with torn cartilage, Girardi said he expects that Teixeira may need additional rest after rejoining the active roster.
"You're probably going to have to," Girardi said. "It's probably going to be a fact where I'm going to have to check with him every day."