DENVER -- Yasiel Puig will begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment Thursday with the team's Class A Rancho Cucamonga club and, assuming he can avoid another setback, will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers some time next week, manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday.

Puig has been on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring since April 26. He re-injured the leg in his previous rehab assignment on May 8 while running out a ground ball.

Mattingly said he has been getting good reports on Puig's health as the outfielder has been working out at the team's spring training facilities in Arizona throughout this road trip. Mattingly said Puig will play the outfield and not just get at-bats as the designated hitter as he did in his previous rehab stint.

Rancho Cucamonga plays at Lancaster Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. PT.

"I just know they're talking about him playing right field, so he's dong really well in Arizona," Mattingly said. "I would think we'll get him next week, but I'm not going to try to call his timetable."

Puig, 24, made his major-league debut two years ago, on June 3, 2013. He is a .304 career hitter with an .886 OPS. He has been limited to 11 games this season.

When Puig returns, Andre Ethier, who entered Wednesday's game with a career-high .915 OPS, will move to left field and play against right-handed pitchers, Mattingly said. When the Dodgers are facing lefties, Alex Guerrero and Scott Van Slyke, when his ailing back heals, figure to split time in left.