Correa moving closer to rehab assignment

SEATTLE — A path for

Carlos Correa’s return appears more distinct.

The Astros have an “initial plan” to send their shortstop on a rehab assignment to Class AA Corpus Christi on Thursday, manager A.J. Hinch said.

For the first time since he was placed on the disabled list more than a month ago, Correa participated in a full pregame routine on Tuesday at Safeco Field — fielding ground balls and taking batting practice after running the bases earlier in the day.

“Provided he gets through that, by the end of this segment of the road trip in Seattle, he could get to a city and get to an affiliate hopefully as soon as Thursday,” Hinch said.

Battling a sore lower back that he reaggravated while rehabbing during the All-Star break, Correa has not played since June 25. Wednesday’s game against Seattle will be the 30th consecutive game in which he does not play.

Hinch declined to speculate on a specific timetable for the rehab assignment. Class AA Corpus Christi plays a four-game road series at Frisco beginning Thursday. The team has a day off Monday, the same day Houston begins a two-game series at San Francisco.

“I literally want to get him in a game first,” Hinch said of a possible timetable. “See how he feels, how his timing is, how his body responds the next day.”