Ryan Ludwick To Begin Rehab Assignment Tonight

Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick, out of action since June 26 with hamstring problems, is set to begin a rehab assignment in AAA Memphis, the Post-Dispatch reported Monday:

Ludwick passed a bevy of physical tests this afternoon at Busch Stadium and confirmed to the Post-Dispatch afterward that he’ll head to the Class AAA affiliate to get his timing and swing back. Ludwick went through a normal batting practice and also went through running and fielding drills before getting the nod from the team’s training staff to pack his bats and head south.

Ludwick said he could return to the majors as early as this weekend, joining the Cardinals in Chicago.

Ludwick has suffered multiple setbacks since the initial injury; the DL stint came only after a pinch-hitting experiment six games after the initial concerns proved too soon.