Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu: Back 'sooner rather than later'

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he expects Abreu (ankle) to return from the 10-day injured list "sooner rather than later," Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Cora said that Abreu still feels some minor discomfort with his right ankle when running in a straight line, but the outfielder is doing much better. He will need a rehab assignment, so Abreu won't be ready for activation when first eligible Thursday. However, the Red Sox likely won't have to wait too much longer to get Abreu back.