Machado talks about his rehab assignment and more in Frederick

FREDERICK, Md. - As the rain continues to fall steadily, it's looking more and more like Manny Machado's first rehab game with the Single-A Frederick Keys may have to wait another day.

As of this hour, the tarp is still on the field, but the game has not yet been postponed.

Machado took some ground balls at third base around 3 p.m. before the rains hit and can still handle himself at a press conference. He just held one with reporters here in one of the Keys' second-level suites at Harry Grove Stadium.

Machado, who had left knee surgery in October, said it's too soon to know how many rehab games he will need before he can return to the Orioles.

"It's something that, I can't go out there and say I'm going to be ready tomorrow. It's something that, getting a feel for it. The more I play, the better I'm going to feel out there and recover from playing," Machado said.

"I can't give an answer when that is going to be. I don't know that. The front office doesn't know that. Buck (Showalter) doesn't know that. It is something that has to come from me and just with time basically. Just getting the repetition in."

But after playing a few games at extended spring training, Machado said he is clearly ready to take this next step.

"Feel good, real good," he said. "Excited to get back out there. Overall, I feel great. Once I made the decision to have the surgery, I knew it was going to be a long process and hard road. It was something where I had to look at the bright side. I'm going to be out there soon and I'm going to be healthy."

Machado was asked what he wants to get out of these rehab games, however many he winds up playing on his way back to the majors.

"Get some at-bats," he said. "Play under the lights. Play in front of a crowd and get back into baseball mentality of playing every day. Getting yourself into the routines you need to get to to perform in the big leagues.

"I wouldn't say I've changed anything (during the rehab). It's more just knowing the hard work I put in with the rehab, it's going to be there. So it's more of a mental thing. I'm ready to be out there and play everyday. Trust what I've done for the last six months. Go out and have fun like I used to."

When he last played for the Keys, he had some fun as that 2011 team won the Carolina League championship.

"My last memory was a good one: leaving here winning a championship with the team we had back in 2011. To come back here for the first time after not being here for a while, it's definitely exciting and brings back a lot of great memories," Machado said.