Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila will start a rehab assignment sometime next week, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Avila has been sidelined since May 7 with a knee injury, but he resumed baseball activities two weeks ago. He was diagnosed with loose tissue in his left knee.
Manager Brad Ausmus said Avila is close to a minor league rehabilitation assignment and it could after the team’s eight-game trip concludes next Wednesday in Cleveland.
“I feel really good,” Avila told the newspaper. “Patience is a good word for it. Obviously, it’s difficult. I’m not used to sitting for this long. This injury’s put me the longest I’ve been out. I’ve had concussions, but it’s never put me out this long.
“It’s not easy to watch. I’m so used to playing every single day that when you sit and watch and you can’t do anything, you feel useless. It’s my job to go out there and play and help my team win, and you can’t do anything, really.”
Avila is hitting .200 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 22 games this season.
Avila’s rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo likely will last between four and six games, Ausmus said.
“This week and last week, I’ve been able to do baseball stuff, and that’s kind of picked me up a little bit,” Avila said. “Actually getting to travel with the team, that helps a little bit, but it’s still not easy.”