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Jerry Hairston will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday night for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, and will play at least two games with the Quakes. The utility man was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 7 with a left groin strain, then during rehab also hurt his left knee.
"Jerry is playing six tonight, six tomorrow," manager Don Mattingly said. "Then we'll see where he's at after that."
Hairston is batting second for the Quakes on Friday, playing third base against Visalia. Mattingly said he wasn't sure whether Hairston would switch positions in each game, but that Hairston would play both the infield and outfield with the Quakes.
Hairston, 37, is hitting .255/.304/.353 with one home run and two doubles in 20 games. He has been a versatile corner man for the Dodgers this season, starting three games at third base, three games at first base, three games in left field and two games in right field.
It will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do once Hairston is ready to be activated. It could spell the end for Luis Cruz, who is hitting .096 (7-for-73) and has just seven plate appearances in the last 15 games. If the Dodgers view Hairston as a viable right-handed hitting outfield complement, they could option Scott Van Slyke, but that would mean getting rid of the team's most productive hitter in May.