Royals’ Jarrod Dyson prepares to head out on rehab assignment

As the Royals begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, outfielder Jarrod Dyson could be on his way to a minor-league rehab assignment.

On Wednesday afternoon, Dyson cleared another hurdle in his recovery from a strained oblique muscle, hitting live batting practice for the second straight day during an off-day workout at Kauffman Stadium. He reported no issues from either session.

“We’ll just see how it goes the next few days,” Dyson said of his impending rehab assignment, likely at Class AAA Omaha. “I’m looking forward to getting out of here in the next few days.”

Dyson strained his right oblique in the Royals’ spring training opener on March 2. He was diagnosed with a grade 2 strain and was expected to miss at least six weeks. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week, retroactive to March 25. He would be eligible to return Saturday.

“It’s about that time,” Dyson said. “Vacation is over for me.”

Dyson said he did not know how long he would stay on the rehab assignment. The duration will be dictated by his health, he said, but he may also require extra reps at the plate after missing nearly the entire spring training schedule.

“When you’ve been around for a little while, it don’t take as long,” Dyson said. “I’ve been around the game for a while, it don’t take much for me.”

Dyson was expected to begin the season as the Royals’ starter in right field, where he would share time with Paulo Orlando. His injury opened a spot for Reymond Fuentes, who started the Royals’ first two games, and pinch-runner Terrance Gore. When Dyson returns, he will likely replace Gore on the 25-man roster. At the moment, the Royals have committed to nothing.

For now, Dyson said he was not holding back in his final leg of rehab. As he hit batting practice Wednesday, he took a number of healthy cuts, sending one baseball off the wall in right field.

“I’m not even trying to think about it or anything,” Dyson said. “When I’m swinging, I hack. That’s one of those things — you don’t want to baby it and then go down (to the minors) and start full swings with a lot of force behind it.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Royals’ Jarrod Dyson prepares to head out on rehab assignment."