Morel feels good, could start rehab soon

CHICAGO -- Brent Morel took infield on Sunday morning and added in batting practice as he continues to work his way back from the lumbar back strain that placed him on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 18. Morel looked smooth in the field, as third base coach Joe McEwing hit him grounders and manager Robin Ventura and bench coach Mark Parent looked on.

"I feel perfectly normal," Morel said. "Just getting my conditioning back, getting my arm back in shape. I feel ready to go."

Morel had a cortisone shot on May 10 for what was thought to be a bulging disk. But the injury was pinpointed to the facet joint around the disk following a physical exam, which Morel explained as sort of like the knuckle, and the more specific treatment has paid dividends.

"It's completely different now," said Morel, who went five days without doing anything but icing the pain before returning to workouts that included flips the last two days. "It feels way better, so hopefully it just continues to feel like this."

A Minor League rehab trip could begin as soon as Wednesday, in Morel's mind.