DENVER (AP) — Carlos Gonzalez says his sprained right middle finger is feeling better after taking a round of batting practice Tuesday and hopes to soon leave for a rehab assignment.

The Colorado Rockies outfielder has been on the disabled list since early August. Gonzalez says the finger remains sore, but he expected as much after doctors told him it wouldn’t be 100 percent until next season.

Asked about the pain, the All-Star said: “It’s something I can play through. … It feels a lot better.”

Gonzalez put on quite a hitting display in batting practice, sending a few pitches into the upper deck. Gonzalez is hitting .302 with 26 homers.

Hours before Tuesday’s game against San Francisco, Roy Oswalt (strained left hamstring) took the field and threw around 60 pitches in a simulated contest.