Jeff Keppinger (toe) is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Durham. Keppinger will serve as the DH on Friday before playing in the field on Saturday. It's not clear how long he'll spend on the rehab assignment, but he appears likely to rejoin the Rays by the end of the month.

Jeff Keppinger (toe) resumed baseball activities Wednesday. "I started jogging, running, doing some activities, hitting, throwing and started doing a little shuffling today, fielding some balls," Keppinger said. "Basically just getting my body back going now." There's currently no timetable for Keppinger's return, but he should be ready before the end of the month if he can avoid setbacks.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Jeff Keppinger (toe) will be ready to take batting practice "in a couple days." Keppinger has already missed three weeks with a broken big right toe but has finally ditched his walking boot. He'll likely require a rehab assignment but should be back before the end of the month.

Jeff Keppinger is currently nursing a foot injury. It's not clear at this point how he suffered the ailment or how long he'll be out. Keppinger is batting .295/.330/.398 with two homers this season.

Rays activated INF Jeff Keppinger from the restricted list. Keppinger was placed on the restricted list earlier this week in order to attend to his divorce case. The 32-year-old is back in the starting lineup as the DH Thursday against the Yankees.

Jeff Keppinger went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk to lead the Rays to a 4-3 win over the Mariners on Thursday. The Rays could have moved Sean Rodriguez to third base and gone with Reid Brignac at shortstop with Evan Longoria out, but the plan for now is to mix-and-match Keppinger, Will Rhymes and Elliot Johnson. Keppinger is the best hitter of the group, and since he's currently riding a 7-for-8 streak at the plate, we'll likely be seeing a lot more of him in the near future.

Facing another starting left-hander, Jeff Keppinger returned to the cleanup spot on Thursday, finishing 0-for-5 in a loss to Detroit. The off night started in the first inning when he harmlessly popped out with no outs and the bases loaded; the Rays failed to score that inning, which turned out to be costly. And trailing 3-2 in the seventh, he lined into a double play with two on and no outs. In all, he left six runners on base.

Jeff Keppinger is in the designated hitter slot and batting cleanup for the Rays in Friday's opener. Keppinger admitted that he has never batted cleanup before, not even in high school or college. It's a bit of an unusual setup, but manager Joe Maddon has never been afraid to do something unconventional with his lineup, and Keppinger does have an .852 career OPS against left-handed pitching. The Rays are squaring off against CC Sabathia Friday.

Rays signed INF Jeff Keppinger to a one-year, $1.525 million contract. The deal also includes some incentives. Keppinger, who will turn 32 in April, batted just .277/.300/.377 with six home runs and 35 RBI in 399 plate appearances last season between the Giants and Astros, but he holds an .852 career OPS against left-handed pitchers and offers defensive versatility.

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Rays have inked a one-year contract with Jeff Keppinger. No word yet on the financial terms. Keppinger batted just .277/.300/.377 with six home runs and 35 RBI in 399 plate appearances last season between the Giants and Astros, but he holds an .852 career OPS against left-handed pitchers and will likely be utilized correctly (as a part-time middle infielder) by Rays manager Joe Maddon.