"Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment following the All-Star break and could return to the major league lineup July 18, The Boston Globe reports.

"It's not etched in stone," manager Terry Francona told the newspaper. "As important as his legs are, I think this gives us a chance to really not mess this up. He actually wanted the at-bats (in the minors)."

Crawford, who is hitting .243 with six homers, 31 RBIs and eight stolen bases, has been sidelined since suffering a strained left hamstring on June 17."