Cubs LF Soriano close to returning

Jul 16, 2008 - 8:53 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The first-place Chicago Cubs will begin the second half without left fielder Alfonso Soriano, but his return could be only a week ago.

On the disabled list for more than a month with a broken bone in his left hand, Soriano is targeting July 24 as his return date.

"I'm very excited because I'm going to stay healthy and help the team stay in first place," said Soriano, one of eight Cubs who were on the National League All-Star roster.

Soriano was unable to play in Tuesday's All-Star Game in New York and has taken batting practice only once since suffering the injury on June 11 when he was hit by a pitch. However, Soriano expects to resume hitting in Houston, where the Cubs start the second half on Friday.

"If everything goes well, I can hit and soft toss in Houston, and maybe I can play in some games and do rookie ball in Arizona and come back here and try to play," he said.

Soriano, who was out earlier in the season with a strained right calf, has played in only 51 of the Cubs' 95 games this year. He is batting .283 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI.

After opening the second half with six road games, Chicago returns home for a four-game series against the Florida Marlins beginning on July 24.

The Cubs (57-38) have gone 15-14 without Soriano and are tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the best record in the major leagues. They have a 4 1/2-game lead over St. Louis in the National League Central.