Detroit Tigers’ Victor Martinez to begin rehab assignment Sunday

After having no issues in batting practice on Saturday, Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with the AAA Toledo Mud Hens. Martinez will join the team Sunday in Pawtucket and play a three-game set in Syracuse before the team makes a decision to bring him up. The plan is for the 36-year-old to join the big league club in New York for a series against the Yankees on Thursday.

Martinez has been on the disabled list since May 19 with left knee inflammation, and struggled even before that hitting .216 in 34 games. He had surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in the left knee, and appeared not fully recovered when he was playing.

The Tigers have won just nine of 24 games since Martinez went on the shelf, and will welcome back the veteran who manager Brad Ausmus said looks significantly stronger than he did in Spring Training. He will be evaluated after Wednesday’s game, though Detroit won’t feel pressured to rush him back with current DH Tyler Collins hitting a strong .302 in the interim.