Moncada 'excited' to start rehab assignment

CHICAGO -- Yoán Moncada will begin an injury rehabilitation assignment to test his strained right oblique Friday with Triple-A Charlotte, as announced by the White Sox third baseman before Wednesday afternoon’s contest against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“I'm excited,” said Moncada through interpreter Billy Russo. “I'm excited to be able to start playing again. I was wishing for that for several weeks.

“For me personally, it's been very, very difficult not being able to be on the field and helping the team, especially this month. But there's just so little I can do and I'm doing everything I can to get ready to come back and help the team.”

Moncada took batting practice Tuesday evening for the first time since suffering the injury at the end of Spring Training, although he did work in the cage and on the field defensively this past weekend in Minneapolis. He feels pretty good overall, although he still feels a little something -- primarily when hitting from the left side.

“Right now, I feel much better,” Moncada said. “I don't feel anything when I'm fielding and just a little bit when I hit. It's not a big deal right now.”

“He's been swinging really well here, so he may come out there and just [have] 15 at-bats and look like he's ready,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “But it may take him 25, no way to predict it. It's always a mistake to bring a guy up to the big leagues before he's ready because he's going to struggle, and then he's got to get out of the struggle. It's better to come in here ready to play.”

Right-handed reliever Joe Kelly, who has been gradually ramped up in recovering from a nerve issue in his right biceps, also will begin a rehabilitation assignment Friday with Charlotte, according to La Russa.