Red Sox David Ross could begin rehab for concussion by week's end

The Red Sox have been without backup catcher David Ross since a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays on May 11, as he had two foul tips hit him in the head, resulting in a concussion. He's been on the seven-day disabled list waiting for symptoms to subside, but there had not been any positive news in that regard as of yet.

MLB.com's Ian Browne reported last night, though, that Ross had "another good day" in Boston while the Red Sox are in Chicago facing the White Sox, and, as a result, could be on a minor-league rehab assignment by week's end. So long as the symptoms have faded and Ross is cleared by Major League Baseball to play, of course, as it's not at the team's or player's discretion to decide these things anymore.

Ross is hitting just .209, but he's shown plenty of patience (.320 on-base percentage in spite of the average) and power (.512 slugging thanks to four homers in 15 games). He's also, without a doubt, the top defensive catcher on the roster, and having him around to help the pitchers in non-Jarrod Saltalamacchia games is a boost they could use. Ryan Lavarnway has appeared in just two games in Ross' absence, with Saltalamacchia picking up the rest of the starts. While it hasn't adversely affected Salty yet -- he's hitting .273/.385/.455 in the absence of Ross -- that, and his energy, won't last forever.

It might take a few starts before Ross is back to normal even after he is cleared to play, as we were reminded can happen when Stephen Drew's season started slow after his own concussion. Still, it will be for the best to get his glove back behind the plate, and Lavarnway back to Pawtucket where he can play everyday.

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Update: MassLive.com's Evan Drellich tweets that, more specifically, Ross is hoping to be in a rehab game with Double-A Portland as soon as Thursday. If that happens, and he's behind the plate instead of at DH, he'd be catching Franklin Morales in the lefty's final rehab start.