Willingham nearly ready to start swinging

MINNEAPOLIS -- Outfielder Josh Willingham said his left wrist is continuing to feel better, and that he remains hopeful he'll be able to swing the bat by early next week.

Willingham, who is on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7 with a small fracture in his wrist, will need a rehab assignment once he's deemed healthy enough to play.

"It's feeling a lot better," Willingham said. "It's a little point-tender, so once that goes away I can hit. As soon as that tenderness goes away, I'll start swinging."

Willingham originally injured his wrist on April 6, when he was hit by a fastball on the wrist by Indians starter Justin Masterson. Willingham was hitting .294/.435/.353 with a double and an RBI in six games before the injury.