Look for Jay Gibbons to return to the O?s lineup this weekend. Gibbons said that both he and the Orioles are eyeing a Friday night return from the knee injury that has held the left-handed slugger out of action since June 14.
“It?s not 100 percent by any means, but it?s a lot better than it was when I first came back,” Gibbons said before the Keys? 14-10 loss to Kinston Tuesday night.
Gibbons was hurt May 27 and was retroactively placed on the disabled list June 2. He returned to action June 12, but three days later he was back on the 15-day disabled list.
Gibbons was in the Frederick lineup for the second straight time Tuesday night as the DH. He went 0-for-3.
“I told myself I?ve got to get one hit in this rehab assignment,” said Gibbons, who admitted he struggled facing a tough left-hander Monday night.
“It?s just a matter of getting my timing back,” Gibbons said. “I didn?t realize how long I?d been gone.”
In the last two months, Orioles rookie Nick Markakis has established himself in right field ? the position Gibbons has played most frequently since becoming an regular in 2002.
“Nick is doing a great job,” Gibbons said. “There?s no secret he?s a good outfielder and a good player. I?m a huge Markakis fan, and [I?m for] whatever makes our team better.”
Gibbons said he will serve as the designated hitter upon his return but is open to playing first base once his knee responds.
“I can DH tonight. I?m ready to go, physically,” said Gibbons, who was hitting .274 with 10 home runs for the Orioles before the injuries hit. “They tell me [the knee is] not going to be right all year. It?s just something I?m going to have to deal with over the next two months.”
BOUNCING BACK
» In his big-league career, Gibbons has played 417 games in right field and 86 at first base. He has also played 28 games in leftfield.
» Gibbons has 112 home runs in 653 career games, dating to his rookie season of 2001.
» The Orioles open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
