TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun is heading to Dunedin, Fla., on Tuesday to start a rehabilitation assignment in the Gulf Coast League.
Zaun has been on the disabled list since April 25 after a foul tip off the bat of former teammate and current Red Sox utilityman Eric Hinske broke his right thumb. He began hitting and throwing in recent days and is now ready for the next step.
"It's not reacting too bad," Zaun said Monday. "I don't have any problems with pain or vibrations (while hitting). It's just weak. I'm having a hard time getting the strength back in there."
The plan is for Zaun to spend about a week in Florida, where he can bat every inning in warmup games for the Gulf Coast League season, before a move up to triple-A Syracuse.
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- Chicago White Sox
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- Gustavo Chacin
- Roy Halladay
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- Reed Johnson
- Brandon League
- Gregg Zaun
His first game will likely be Wednesday as a DH.
"I'd like to be catching in about four days," he said. "Hopefully I will, if my arm keeps coming the way it is."
His return would be more good news for a Blue Jays team starting to get healthy after a plethora of injuries.
Ace Roy Halladay will start Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, a mere 20 days after having his appendix removed.
Left-fielder Reed Johnson, recovering from back surgery, has begun swinging a bat again although he's not hitting just yet while set-up man Brandon League continues to make progress and could start pitching in minor-league games soon.
Starter Gustavo Chacin, on the other hand, is still being bothered by a sore shoulder.
"Not a whole lot of progress for him," said manager John Gibbons. "Reed started dry-swinging, I don't know when he's going to be back. League is throwing good. We're going to bump him up and see how he does."
