Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports that Alvarez will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He’ll serve as a designated hitter in his first rehab game back, and the club plans to have him down for “a few games” before he can be activated off the injured list.

Yordan Alvarez is expected to play a few games with Corpus Christi in what could be final stage of recovery from broken bone in hand.

On Saturday, manager Joe Espada announced he had taken eight at-bats in live batting practice in Florida as scheduled, with his next steps to be determined. Espada also noted that Alvarez will travel back to Houston and rejoin the team, which is an encouraging sign.

Before the middle contest Saturday of Houston's three-game series with the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Astros manager Joe Espada teased the potential return of slugger Yordan Alvarez, who has been sidelined since May 3 with a fracture in his right hand.

Yordan Alvarez took 8 live at-bats against live pitching at the Astros' minor-league facility in Florida and will come to Houston on Sunday.