Dunn takes batting practice; eyes Saturday return

MINNEAPOLIS — Adam Dunn took batting practice before the White Sox game against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night and hopes to be in the lineup on Saturday.

Dunn, who will miss his seventh straight start on Friday, said his strained right oblique is much improved. He said Friday was “the best it’s felt” since he re-injured it last week.

“Hopefully I’m in there tomorrow,” Dunn said.

“It’s to the point now where I get it. It’s not going to be 100 percent. I don’t want it to be one bad swing and the season is over. That’s my big concern.

“If this is April I’m going to give it as much time as it takes to feel really good. I don’t have that luxury if I want to play again. If I waited till it felt 100 percent we’d have to wait till Thanksgiving. I don’t see it. As long as it’s healed up to where I’m not going to get back to where I was a week ago I’m fine.”

Dunn hit one batting practice pitch into the top deck in right-center field. He also took a number of controlled, non-aggressive swings. After he hit, Dunn took a few ground balls at first base.

“It’s to the point now where I get it,” he said. “It’s not going to feel 100 percent. I get it. My whole thing was, I don’t want it to be one bad swing and the season is over. That’s my big concern. When I swung today it felt fine.”

Dunn said once he gets back on the field, there will be no fear of re-injuring the oblique.

“We’ve done everything treatment wise and everything we can possibility do to get it where it feels good,” he said. “Once I’m in there playing, I’m not changing anything. Not going to throttle back. Whatever happens, happens.”

Dunn will do the same routine Saturday. After missing seven games, he’s not sure how many at-bats it will take for him to get his timing back.

“I don’t know because I’ve never missed a significant amount of time. This is by far the most time I’ve missed.”