Major League Baseball

Oakland OF Josh Reddick won't be ready for start of season

Published Mar. 29, 2015 5:41 p.m. ET

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MESA, Ariz. (AP) Oakland Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick says he won't be ready for opening day because of his injured oblique.

Reddick played five innings in a minor league game Sunday and reported no issues with swinging a bat, running the bases and sliding.

''It's a huge relief,'' he said. ''I wasn't really worried about anything bothering me, went out there and got a couple of three-ball counts. Swung hard trying to hit it far.''

Reddick played in his only big league spring training game on March 4. He is to start the season at Class A Stockton for a brief injury rehabilitation assignment and plans to be activated by the sixth game of the regular season - likely against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez.