Cubs OF Soriano set to begin rehab

Jul 20, 2008 - 7:04 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Chicago Cubs All-Star Alfonso Soriano will begin a rehab assignment Monday, according to a report on mlb.com.

Soriano, who has been out since June 11 with a broken left ring finger, will join the Cubs' Rookie League affiliate in Peoria, Arizona on Monday and could return to the majors on Wednesday or Thursday if all goes well.

Chicago will begin a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday before traveling home to face the Florida Marlins on Thursday.

"I feel good," Soriano told the website. "The next thing is to get some at-bats and go from there."

Soriano took batting practice on Friday and Saturday and was given the OK to begin the rehab assignment on Sunday morning.

"We'll see how it goes," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told mlb.com. "So far, so good. Hopefully, he'll take the next step without any problem and we can get him back in the lineup."

Soriano has made two trips to the DL this season, including missing the last half of April with a calf injury, and is batting .283 with 15 homers and 40 RBI this season.