1B Konerko begins rehab assigment

Jul 4, 2008 - 9:33 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox sent first baseman Paul Konerko to Class AAA Charlotte on Friday to begin a rehab assignment.

Konerko suffered a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique muscle while hitting in the batting cage prior to the White Sox's game against the Colorado Rockies on June 15. Two days later, he was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career.

A lifetime .278 hitter, the 32-year-old Konerko was batting just .215 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 62 games this season prior to the injury.

Despite Konerko's struggles, the first-place White Sox hold a two-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central Division.

"It's good we're winning," Konerko said. "My focus is solely on this team getting to the playoffs. I have no other motives - nothing else. It's about this team getting to the playoffs. That's it for me."

The White Sox also recalled righthander Esteban Loaiza, 36, from his injury rehab assignment at Charlotte. He went on the DL on June 13 with right shoulder inflammation.