Griffey Hoping to Return Next Week

Ken Griffey Jr. won’t be back in the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup for at least another week.

The center fielder still can’t make sharp cuts on the right knee he injured while trying to change directions during a rundown on April 7. Griffey tore the patella tendon and went on the disabled list.

He’ll stay in Cincinnati for rehabilitation when the team heads to Milwaukee for a four-game series starting Monday. If his workouts go well, Griffey could join the Reds in St. Louis for a series next weekend.

“If he looks good, there’s a potential that he might go to St. Louis,” Dr. Timothy Kremchek said Friday. “If he does, all the thoughts are that he could potentially play. Is that set in stone? No. It depends on how he does this weekend and early next week.”

Griffey worked out at Cinergy Field on the team’s off-day Thursday, and had no major problems in his toughest test so far. He jogged sideways, backward and forward, and tested the knee by jumping and hopping.

“I don’t have a problem jogging,” Griffey said. “They don’t want me stopping until I get to a certain point on my testing.”

*

The Minnesota Twins put third baseman Corey Koskie on the 15-day disabled list because of a right hamstring injury.

Koskie pulled his hamstring while running the bases Tuesday night. He had never been on the DL before. The Twins recalled infielder Casey Blake from triple-A Edmonton to take Koskie’s spot on the roster.

*

Kris Benson, who hasn’t pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates since September 2000 because of reconstructive elbow surgery, will start Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park.... The Colorado Rockies put right-hander Shawn Chacon on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his chest and recalled infielder Brent Butler from triple-A Colorado Springs.... The Toronto Blue Jays put second baseman Homer Bush on waivers. He will become a free agent Tuesday if he is not claimed.