CLEVELAND -- Michael Bourn, who has been on the disabled list since July 6 with a strained left hamstring, will begin a rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday in Akron.
Bourn ran the bases for the third time on Monday and the Indians announced the move after their 7-1 win over Cincinnati.
Before the game, Bourn said that so far he hasn't had any setbacks and that he is getting closer to returning.
"I just want to come back and be able to contribute and play good baseball down the stretch," Bourn said. "One thing about the hamstring is when you hurt it you are trying to play catch up the rest of the year. At least I have some at bats under me from early in the season. My legs haven't gotten too much out of shape. I'm just trying to get back as soon as possible."
The RubberDucks begin a six-game homestand on Tuesday. It is not known how many innings Bourn will play but they will steadily build them up. When he was on the DL earlier this season, he had a rehab stint of five games between Columbus and Akron.
Bourn has had four hamstring-related incidents in the past year. He first injured it in last season's regular-season finale at Minnesota as he was trying to steal second base in the ninth inning. He had offseason surgery and then strained it during a Spring Training game on March 16 against the Giants. He missed the first 13 games of the season on the DL and did a brief rehab stint before making his season debut on April 16.
In early May, Bourn missed four games when he tweaked it. It was later determined that it was more related to scar tissue from the surgery breaking loose. All of those were on the inside of the left hamstring. This latest injury, which happened when he was rounding third in a July 5 game against the White Sox, is on the other side.
In 66 games this season, Bourn his batting .267 with three home runs and 21 RBI. He also has seven triples, which is tied for second in the American League.
