Roberts nearing a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk

TORONTO -- Second baseman Brian Roberts has been working out in Toronto with the Orioles and appears ready to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Norfolk.

Roberts upped the intensity of his workouts on Sunday, under the watchful eyes of the Orioles' coaching staff. The 35-year-old, who is recovering from right hamstring surgery, participated in numerous running drills with head athletic trainer Richard Bancells and took batting practice for the first time over the weekend.

Mimicking different in-game scenarios, Roberts ran from first to third before coming to a complete stop, and sprinted from base to base with what appeared to be no restrictions. He was out early working on the field before joining the team during an optional batting practice, where the switch-hitter took swings from both sides of the plate.

"Brian is coming back with us tonight," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He looked pretty good."

Roberts will engage in another set of workouts in Baltimore on Monday, where the Orioles will begin a four-game set against Cleveland. If he has no setbacks, Roberts will head to Norfolk.

The two-time All-Star has been slowed by injuries for the last few years, playing in just 118 games since the start of the 2010 season, and only three in 2013. Roberts was once one of the top second basemen in the game, and from 2007-09, recorded 149 doubles and 120 stolen bases.

In the three games Roberts has played in 2013, he was 5-for-12 (.417) with one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored.