BOSTON - Ryan Hanigan continues to take batting practice with the team before games, and he's getting closer to a return to action.
Hanigan has been out since May 1 with a broken finger after taking a baseball off of it behind the plate.
John Farrell said on Tuesday that he hopes Hanigan can go on a rehab assignment once the team returns from its five-game road trip, which starts on Wednesday.
"He's been missed a lot and that's not to say that we've been disappointed in the work of Blake [Swihart] or Sandy [Leon]," Farrell said. "But his experience behind the plate and game-calling, you take a step back just in volume of games caught and the experience back there. He was a guy in that spot in the order that was putting up competitive at-bats, and setting aside the batting average there were a lot of good at-bats that he put up for us. So his leadership of our staff in-game, that's been missed. We're looking forward to getting him back when he's ready to get on the field."
Hanigan isn't the only one making improvements. Shane Victorino is also working his way back to the club after going on the disabled lift on May 24 due to continued tightness in his left calf. But as everyone is well aware, there's just no telling for sure with Victorino.
"He continues to ramp up," Farrell said. "When we get through Atlanta hopefully we've got the possibility of getting him out. But I'm not able to commit to a start date for a rehab assignment but that's near.