ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Berkman expects to be back in the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup soon after the All-Star break. Maybe even the first day back.
The first baseman has been sidelined since undergoing left knee surgery in late May that turned out to be relatively minor. Berkman said Monday that swelling was minimal after the procedure and he began running a week ago, and said his rehab was right on schedule.
The switch-hitting Berkman took 25 swings of soft toss from each side several hours before Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. He’ll have to get into baseball shape before taking a rehab assignment and manager Mike Matheny said Berkman hasn’t done much side to side movement yet.
The Cardinals’ first game after the break is July 13 at Cincinnati. Berkman joked that Allen Craig has done so well starting at first base that he may come back as a pinch hitter.
