Robinson Cano to Begin Rehab Assignment on Hand Injury Amid PED Suspension

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano will begin his rehabilitation stint in Triple-A on Monday, as he prepares to rejoin the team after his performance-enhancing drug suspension.

Greg Johns of MLB.com reported the news. 

Cano, who also underwent hand surgery in May, is scheduled to return to the 25-man roster Aug. 14. He appeared in 39 games this season before being handed an 80-game ban.

"We all make mistakes," Cano told reporters last month. "There is always someone out there making a mistake. If it didn't happen to me, it could happen to somebody else. I mean we can judge anyone. We don't know the situation that person is going through. I get it—a lot of people might judge me. The fans and anybody else can say what they think if they choose to. But at the same time, like I told the guys when I met with them—I do not want any of them to go through that situation. The way they've taken this, they've been on my side and I'm glad."

The Mariners are currently 64-48, good for third place in the AL West. They are 2.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second AL wild-card spot.

Getting Cano back in the lineup might just be the boost the Mariners need for the stretch run. Seattle currently sits 22nd in runs scored and on-base percentage. Cano entered 2018 with three straight seasons with 20 home runs and remains one of the best second basemen in the sport.

The Mariners may wind up looking to use Cano at first base or third base when he returns to the lineup. Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said last month that the team views Dee Gordon as its everyday second baseman.