Infante to begin rehab; aims for Thursday return

CLEVELAND -- Omar Infante could be back in the Tigers' lineup by the time the club leaves town Thursday. Detroit's second baseman will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday.

The Mud Hens will be on the road but not far away, beginning a two-game series Tuesday night at the Indians' Triple-A affiliate in Columbus. Infante said he'll be the designated hitter on Tuesday, then play seven innings at second base Wednesday.

"We'll see after that," Infante said.

The Tigers have been in a wait-and-see mode on Infante for about a month while his sprained left ankle, sustained on Colby Rasmus' takeout slide at second base July 3 in Toronto, slowly recovered.

Infante spent two games on rehab at West Michigan two weeks ago, but he left his first game at second base after just four innings when running the bases aggravated the ankle.

He has been running the bases with decent speed the past couple days, but it clearly has been a slow process, and it's not yet complete.

"I feel better today," Infante said. "Just I feel pain when I'm turning the bases, but I feel better today."