Number of Padres could return next week, including Wil Myers

Andy Green continues to pledge the Padres will exercise extreme caution with Wil Myers.

But Green had also been reticent to even provide a potential time frame for Myers’ return from oblique and back strains. So it was at least a cause for optimism that the Padres manager even included Myers among Franchy Cordero, Austin Hedges and Joey Lucchesi, all of whom were known to have a chance to return from the disabled list soon.

“I don’t know the specific date when we see those guys,” Green said. “At varying times, all those guys are possibilities for the upcoming week.”

Myers was scheduled to have an off day Saturday at Triple-A El Paso after playing right field and going 1-for-4 both Thursday and Friday.

“His body feels good,” said Green, who talked with Myers. “Timing probably a little bit off. He said no alerts, no red flags. … He’s getting at-bats. We’re not going to rush him back by any stretch. He played two. He’s going to be off. He’ll play (Sunday). We’ll find out more about him at that point in time.

“He’s going to play more than three, for sure. We’re going to continue to take it day-by-day with him.”

Myers just began doing baseball activity two weeks ago. Prior to Thursday, he had not played in a game since April 28.

Outfielder Franchy Cordero, also in El Paso and on the DL since May 28 with a forearm strain, is likely to beat Myers back.

Catcher Austin Hedges’ rehab assignment is moving to El Paso from Single-A Lake Elsinore, where he caught in three of the past four games. The reports on how his elbow has responded have been positive as well.

Starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi (hip strain) threw a bullpen session Saturday, two days after pitching four hitless innings for Elsinore in his first rehab start. How he feels Sunday will help determine whether he makes another rehab start in the minors or rejoins the team midweek.

There are an abundance of possible roster machinations when the four players return.

The most obvious combination involves the Padres eliminating two current outfielders, one of their nine relief pitchers and a catcher.

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com