BALTIMORE -- Yankees' center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury hasn't seen the field since May 19 when he sprained his right knee in Washington but is finally starting to increase his workload and may return to the field sometime in the next few weeks.

"Been doing base-running, hitting in the cage," Ellsbury said of his days lately. "Get here early, get some treatment throughout the game."

Ellsbury talked to reporters after New York's 5-3 over the Orioles in Baltimore in the visitor's clubhouse.

It was said, by GM Brian Cashman and others, that Ellsbury would miss around six weeks from the date of the injury. So if he returns by the end of June, that would put him just about on schedule.

I'm optimistic," he said. "Hopefully I'll be back before that. If can trim any time off that, that would be a success."

He said he's had no setbacks, despite a little tightness in the knee that he has been told is natural and has not hampered anything. He may stay in Florida with the team--they fly Sunday night to Miami for a two-game series with the Marlins--and rehab more in Tampa (Yankees' spring training facility), but doesn't know yet.

"We'll talk about it in Miami," he said.

Ellsbury cautioned reading too much into whether he stays in Florida or remains with the team.

If he remains in Florida it means he could be back playing in games sooner. But if he stays with the big league club it might mean he doesn't need to play in as many rehab games and can continue to see the Yankee trainers he's been working with since he went down with injury. That will also help keep him on the same schedule he's used to.

If he flies back north with the team, he'll likely play rehab games in Trenton N.J., or Scranton, Pa., where the Yankees have their Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, respectively.

Ellsbury said he'll probably start hitting outside soon as opposed to just the batting cage. He ran on the field in Baltimore on Friday at about 60 percent, manager Joe Girardi said, and fielded several balls in center field.

"There's a progression to it," Ellsbury said.

One the Yankees, and he, hope continues without incident.

Ryan Hatch may be reached at rhatch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanhatch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.