Matsui heads toward rehab assignment

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Matsui heads toward rehab assignment
04/04/2008 2:53 PM ET
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Second baseman Kazuo Matsui will be re-examined on Monday, and if doctors give him a clean bill of health, he'll head to Corpus Christi, Texas, to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday.
The Double-A Hooks will play at home Tuesday but have an off-day Wednesday, so Matsui would travel back to Houston to work out with the Astros that day. He would then rejoin the Hooks for their three-game series in Tulsa on Thursday through Saturday.
"If everything moves in a straight line, there's a chance he could be activated for the Sunday [April 13] game [versus Florida]," general manager Ed Wade said. "If not, we're hopeful he could go Tuesday [April 15] in Philly."
Matsui began the season on the disabled list after undergoing a surgical procedure during Spring Training. Because he was limited to 18 at-bats during the exhibition season, playing a few games in the Minor Leagues is essential.
"He needs to get some at-bats in," manager Cecil Cooper said. "He takes batting practice like everybody does, takes ground balls, the whole bit. We're turning him loose, for the most part."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.