Eloy Jiménez is one step closer to returning to the White Sox.

The outfielder will begin a rehab assignment on Friday at High-A Winston-Salem, the team announced Thursday.

Jiménez has yet to play this season after rupturing his left pectoral tendon in a Spring Training game on March 24. The 24-year-old left fielder had surgery to repair the injury at the end of March, and the White Sox gave a timetable of five to six months for his return at the time.

Jiménez hit .296/.332/.559 with 14 home runs, 41 RBIs and an .891 OPS for Chicago last season, winning a Silver Slugger Award.

Rookie slugger Andrew Vaughn has been playing left field in Jiménez's place. Even without Jiménez, the White Sox are in first place in the American League Central at 51-35, eight games ahead of the Indians.