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CHICAGO -- White Sox slugger Paul Konerko hopes to come off the disabled list early next week after a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Charlotte this weekend.
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Konerko strained his left oblique during batting practice on June 15 and landed on the disabled list for the first time in his career two days later.
"I'm just trying not to get ahead of myself," he said Thursday. "Let's hit off real pitching in a game and do all those things."
It's been a difficult season for Konerko.
Besides the oblique problem, the three-time All-Star has been bothered by a sore right hand. The result is a .215 average, eight homers and 30 RBI. Konerko said the time off has allowed him to heal, and he felt his timing was starting to return during batting practice the past few days.
"One of the benefits is that you get a rest," he said. "Your hands get a rest, your feet get a rest. It's not what you want to have. Believe me, I don't want to go on the DL. ... But one of the benefits is that your other stuff can rest."
In other injury news, closer Bobby Jenks said the soreness he has felt lately just under his left shoulder is improving with rest and does not expect to go on the disabled list. The problem started Saturday, and he aggravated the condition by pitching the next day against the Cubs.
"We're just waiting for it to release because it's more like a cramp," said Jenks, who has 18 saves in 21 chances. "It kind of gets tight and pulls on me."