Pencil in Ken Griffey Jr. as the Cincinnati Reds opening day center fielder.

Griffey left his teammates behind in Florida and returned home to rehabilitate his injured right calf in preparation for the Reds' home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs.

The eight-time All-Star was hurt Monday when he slipped leaving the batter's box against Pittsburgh.

"He will work out with us Sunday, and from all telltale signs he should be good to go on Monday," manager Dave Miley said Friday in Dunedin, Fla.

Griffey hit just .158 with one homer and five RBI in 38 at-bats this spring.

While it looks like Griffey will be playing, Nomar Garciaparra knows it's better to let his injured Achilles' tendon heal now rather than play and have the injury linger all season.

"If there was a time to take care of it, it's to take care of it now going into the season ... so it doesn't become a factor later on," the Boston shortstop said. "I don't like to sit and watch, but at the same time I'm also focused on what I have to do. The good thing is we have a plan on what we'd like to do."

At Fort Myers, Fla., Rick Reed was hit on the left thigh by Shannon Stewart's hard line drive and left after two innings. Reed, 39, is fighting for the final spot in Pittsburgh's rotation.