Tigers C Inge to begin rehab

Jul 7, 2008 - 3:11 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Detroit Tigers catcher Brandon Inge, who aggravated his pulled oblique muscle on June 25 while moving a pillow for his 3-year-old son, will begin a rehab assignment Monday with Class AAA Toledo of the International League.

Inge tried to play through the injury, which he originally suffered a month ago, before being placed on the 15-day list on June 25 - retroactive to June 23. Inge did take batting and fielding practice prior to the Tigers' game against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday without feeling any pain.

"I have a 3-year-old son who sleeps in the bed with my wife and me," Inge said of the freak incident. "I was trying to push the pillow down behind his head and when I did ... I repopped (the strained muscle)."

Following Sunday's game in Seattle, Detroit optioned the contract of third baseman Michael Hollimon back to Toledo. Holliman was 6-for-23 in 10 games with the Tigers.

Prior to Tuesday's contest against Cleveland, Detroit is expected to activate utilityman Ramon Santiago from the 15-day DL.

Santiago is on the DL with a separated left shoulder but has spent the past week on a rehab assignment at Toledo. He has just two hits in 24 at-bats in seven games at Toledo but he has regained his health.