Orioles’ forgotten man Brian Roberts finally begins rehabbing

After numerous setbacks and false starts recovering from his abdominal injury and subsequent back problems Brian Roberts finally began a rehab assignment today in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, going 3-for-3 while leading off and playing second base. Roberts said last week that he’s targeting an August 1 return, but president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail would only say that the Orioles “will see how it goes” in terms of establishing a timetable. He’s been on the disabled list since early April and obviously there’s no real need to rush him back with the Orioles miles from contention. Roberts is making $10 million in the first season of a four-year contract extension signed in February of 2009, so the Orioles still owe the 32-year-old second baseman $10 million in 2011, 2012, and 2013.