Howie Kendrick has been playing catch and fielding ground balls, but he has still not started swinging a bat in his return from a fractured left index finger.

He hopes that after X-rays on Friday he will be cleared to start taking batting practice and then could be in a rehab assignment next week when the team goes on a weeklong trip to Toronto and Boston.

"I'm ready to play," Kendrick said. "I've been ready to play since the day it happened. I'll keep continuing to do therapy on it."

Kendrick says he hasn't questioned why he's suffered two broken bones in the same hand this season - he was hit by Oakland's Chad Gaudin on April 17 - and has tried to stay positive despite playing in 51 games this season

"You can ask a lot of questions this year, it's been a crazy year," he said. "Nothing could have been done differently to keep me from breaking any bones. I'm thankful I'll be able to be a part of this team again."

When I approached Kendrick to speak with him, he was reading the Bible and said that God has a plan for everyone. He's just trying to figure out why he's had two broken bones in the same hand.

"Things happen for a reason," he said. "It will reveal itself to me. I try to make the most of the situation by staying strong mentally and I'll be ready to come back when I can."