Inge to begin rehab stint Monday In Toledo

07/06/2008 3:48 PM ET
Inge to begin rehab stint Monday
Utilityman likely won't be activated until after All-Star break
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

SEATTLE -- Brandon Inge will go on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo starting on Monday, as the Tigers' utilityman works his way back from a pulled left oblique muscle.

Inge, who went on the 15-day disabled list two weeks ago after trying to play through the injury for a few weeks, went through a full session of batting practice and infield practice before Saturday's game against the Mariners at Safeco Field. It's the same place where he first pulled his oblique little more than a month ago while taking batting practice and then checking his swing during a game.

Though he could play in the field with just minor trouble, swinging a bat became an increasing problem for him until the pain became excruciating. It was no problem on Saturday, when he took several big swings and was still pain-free.

"I didn't feel a thing," Inge said. "I let them go, too."

The progress was impressive enough that head athletic trainer Kevin Rand cleared Inge for game action.

Manager Jim Leyland said Sunday morning that he still expects that Inge will not be activated until after the All-Star break. At the very least, this assignment gives him plenty of at-bats before the break, when the Mud Hens are off for three days as well.

Another injured Tigers utilityman, Ramon Santiago, is on track to rejoin the Tigers when they resume play at home on Tuesday. Santiago is on the 15-day DL with a separated left shoulder but has spent the past week on a rehab assignment with Toledo. He entered play Sunday having gone 2-for-21 with a double and two runs scored in six games, but the key for the Tigers is simply health.

Santiago's return likely will have Michael Hollimon headed back to the Hens, Leyland said. Hollimon entered Sunday having gone 6-for-23 with two doubles, a triple and a home run in 10 games for the Tigers, but club officials want the young prospect to have everyday at-bats to continue to hone his game.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

.....yippee.

07/09/2008 7:45 PM ET
Inge could return Thursday
Rodriguez has heated up, stayed healthy
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Brandon Inge could be back with the Tigers as soon as Thursday as his Minor League rehab stint heads to a close.

Inge was scheduled to catch for four innings and play third base from there Wednesday night for Triple-A Toledo, which hosts Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before heading out on the road. He was a combined 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs in games Monday and Tuesday.

"We'll see how he comes out of [Wednesday]," Leyland said. "This is basically a health issue. ... If he comes out healthy, I think there's a good chance he'll be back [Thursday]. But you never know about those things, so that's all premature."

So far, Inge has shown little to no effect from the left oblique pull that hampered him for almost all of June until he went on the 15-day disabled list June 23. The injury affected him more at the plate than in the field, he said, but it has not been a factor since he began taking swings in batting practice last week.

The Tigers open a four-game series against the Twins on Thursday with a 1:05 p.m. ET game at Comerica Park. Three of the games in the series will be afternoon starts. Leyland said he expects Ivan Rodriguez to start three of those four games behind the plate.

Inge had been starting every other game before he was injured. Since then, however, Rodriguez has gone on a tear, batting .400 (30-for-75) over his last 20 games. Even after Rodriguez began playing close to every game, he hasn't shown signs of fatigue from the wear and tear.

Inge is batting .215 (31-for-144) for the Tigers this season, with seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 23 RBIs.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I think they've made it official. But I haven't found a link yet.