"Justin Morneau is scheduled to fly to Norfolk, Va., tonight to meet the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings for a minor league rehab assignment. He is expected to play his first game tonight.

Morneau hasn't played since June 9 because of neck, arm and wrist injuries, and had surgery to repair a ruptured disc in his neck June 24. He's been working out at Target Field the past week.

"He had a very good week," general manager Bill Smith said. "He's done everything, in a workout setting - he's hit, fielded, run the bases, thrown. He looks good, and he feels good. That's great news for us."

The Red Wings start a four-game series at Norfolk tonight, then play three at Durham, N.C. Smith said Morneau's progress will be evaluated next week. Manager Ron Gardenhire said trainer Tony Leo, working with Morneau at Target Field, said there are no physical limitations.

But Gardenhire didn't know what Morneau's schedule would be.

"I haven't seen what the plans are, inning by inning, whether he's going to play five innings the first day, I haven't seen any of it," he said. "All I know is I talked to Billy and (Morneau) is really champing at the bit, and he's really believing he's joining us very soon."

Morneau missed the second half of last season because of a concussion and began suffering from neck pain and arm numbness in spring training. He played 55 games but batted just .225 with four home runs and 21 RBIs. He signed off on the surgery hoping to be healthy for the stretch run. "