Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter, a slugger who has been sidelined for more than two months, played in a game Tuesday for the first time since May 26.

Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, batting second in the lineup as the designated hitter. He could need at least a full week of games with the Mud Hens before returning to the Tigers.

The Tigers won't rush Carpenter's return from a lumbar spine stress fracture.

"We've got to do it right, this rehab stint," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday morning on MLB Network Radio, discussing Carpenter and other injured players. "Any setback or any mishap can really start to question whether they can come back this season, so we're going to be very slow and methodical, but seeing them in games pretty soon is fun to think about."

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For the Tigers, Carpenter hit .283 with eight home runs, 11 walks and 38 strikeouts across 50 games before suffering the lower back injury in late May. When healthy, Carpenter ranked as one of the best hitters in baseball against right-handed pitchers, hitting .310 with a 1.004 OPS.

Carpenter suffered a setback while trying to complete his running progression in late June, but after restarting his return-to-play program in early July, he was finally cleared in early August for games on a rehab assignment.

"I feel pretty ready," Carpenter said Saturday, teasing an upcoming rehab assignment. "I'm excited to be back out there. That would be amazing. I miss it."

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Casey Mize rehab in Toledo on deck

Right-hander Casey Mize, returning from a left hamstring strain, is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday with Toledo. The 27-year-old is lined up to make four starts with the Mud Hens before he's eligible Aug. 30 to return to the Tigers.

The team recently moved him to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for left-handed reliever Bryan Sammons.

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When Mize takes the mound Thursday, he will be pitching in his first game since June 30. For the Tigers, Mize owns a 4.23 ERA with 21 walks and 58 strikeouts across 78⅔ innings in 16 starts this season, returning from elbow surgery and back surgery.

Leading to the rehab assignment, Mize completed a two-inning live batting practice session Saturday against two teammates at Comerica Park. It was the final step of his throwing program.

"He threw me a couple of nasty curveballs, but a nasty splitter, so he looks good," said Carpenter, who hit a home run off Mize. "I don't think he was even throwing as hard as he could, like as hard as he does when he's normally healthy, so I can't imagine when he's throwing 98 (mph). It's gotta be pretty tough to hit."

Riley Greene, Reese Olson injury updates

• Outfielder Riley Greene (right hamstring strain) continues to progress through a return-to-play running progression. The 23-year-old is doing defense and hitting drills, as well, but finishing a running program is the final hurdle before a rehab assignment. Greene hasn't played for the Tigers since July 25.

• Right-hander Reese Olson (right shoulder strain) started a return-to-play throwing progression. The 25-year-old will continue to progress his flat ground throwing volume and distance throughout the week, which should lead to his first bullpen, possibly next week. He last pitched for the Tigers on July 20.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kerry Carpenter begins Tigers rehab assignment in Triple-A Toledo