ARLINGTON -- Jeff Banister was asked Wednesday if ailing third baseman Adrian Beltre is “still” shooting for a late May return.

The Rangers manager replied: “There is no timetable right now.”

Beltre, who has missed the start of the season with a strained right calf was originally projected for a “hopeful” return in late May. But while there hasn’t really been a setback, the Rangers seem to want to let Beltre go at his own pace.

“Significant to me is back on the field,” Banister said when asked if there has been significant progress. “There has been some progress, but significant is on the field.”

Banister said Beltre has been walking on a treadmill and could hit soon, and he said he’s smiling, which is a good sign.

“He’s in a good mood, upbeat,” Banister said. “That in itself to me is progress, because last time I saw him he was not like that.”

Asked if the Rangers missed Beltre’s presence on their most recent road trip, Banister said the team has to look at Beltre’s absence as an opportunity to get better.

“With him not being with us on the road trip, that gives us the chance to grow other leadership. That part of it is real and it’s necessary,” Banister said. “You don’t replace him, either on the field or in the clubhouse. But you have to figure out how to do things when you don’t have key individuals in the clubhouse or on the field.”