Hafner beginning rehab stint

Travis Hafner is starting to work his way back to the Cleveland Indians.

The Sykeston native, who’s been on the 15-day disabled list since April 29 with soreness in his right shoulder, will begin a rehab assignment on Friday.

The Indians’ designated hitter will report to Triple-A Columbus. There has been no timetable set for his return.

Hafner has been sidelined by the same injury that limited him to 57 games last year. Hafner said the shoulder is feeling better and “it’s responded well to treatment.”

“He has to go out and play,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “We have to see how he handles that. He feels good, he feels stronger and the soreness is gone. We just have to see how he handles the volume before we get him back up here.”

After offseason surgery, Hafner got off to a fast start. with three homers in his first five games, but has just one since April 13. He is batting .270 in 17 games.

Dr. James Andrews, who performed the offseason surgery on the shoulder, said there would be periods of weakening in the shoulder, and times he’ll have to do extra maintenance on it.

Hafner batted .197 with five homers and 24 RBI last season.

— Sun Staff and AP Reports

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