Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, in Boston to work out with his team on Friday before heading to Pawtucket to continue his rehab assignment on Saturday and Sunday, suggested that he is excited to once again be playing baseball, and eager to return to the Sox to help them down the stretch.

Ellsbury has played just nine games this year, and just three since suffering broken ribs during a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre on April 11. The 26-year-old went on the disabled list after four fractures were found by a CT scan, returned for three games in late-May and then was placed back on the D.L. due to ongoing discomfort that revealed an additional non-displaced rib fracture. After missing more than 90 games, he said that he is “chomping at the bit” to return to games for the Red Sox, and is excited that — with his rehab at Athletes’ Performance in Arizona concluded — he is nearing that goal.

Ellsbury played three games in the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League this week, and got to test his recovery by running the bases, stealing, sliding and playing outfield. His assignment to Pawtucket should offer a good gauge in the coming days of how close he is to be major league ready.

“I just can’t wait to get back. I just can’t wait to get back and I know we’re definitely in striking distance of both [the Yankees in the AL East and the Rays in the wild card],” said Ellsbury. “I’m doing everything in order to play and that’s the biggest thing right now, doing all the baseball activities, doing everything I can to play and ultimately, the last step is playing in the games and that’s what I’ve done the last couple of days in Fort Myers.”

Ellsbury said that he will likely experience some pain over the duration of the season, but that he is confident that he cannot worsen his injury by playing. That being the case, he suggested that there is little holding him back aside from a return to getting game ready.

“I was chomping at the bit from Day One to get back and playing. … If I can go out there and not make it worse, I’ll play with any discomfort I have so that was from day one and that was when I came back, I was under the impression that’s how it was going to be,” said Ellsbury. “As long as I know I’m not going to hurt it worse, I’m ready to go.”

Ellsbury was not sure how many more rehab games he will need before returning to the majors. The Sox plan to have him play on Saturday and Sunday in Pawtucket before re-evaluating him.

Ellsbury said that both he and the team are “on the same page” regarding the course of his rehab. Though there had been questions about his decision to go to Arizona for his rehab (a course that was set, Ellsbury noted, by both him and the team), the outfielder said that there are no hard feelings between him and his teammates, and suggested that the Sox have been nothing but supportive of him during his efforts to return.

“[The rest of the Red Sox were] all in favor,” Ellsbury said of his rehab in Arizona. “They were wondering what I was doing six days after the injury taking batting practice, [asking], ‘What are you doing?’ So they’re all in favor. Every time I come in here, everyone is happy to see me. It’s just like where we left off. The teammates, the coaching staff’s been awesome. …

“I think if there’s any question [about his relationship with the team], I think it’s false,” he added. “I think we’ve been on the same page for a while. The team, myself, everybody. That’s why they sent me to Arizona. That’s why they sent me to Fort Myers. Everything’s been in their hands. We’ve been on the same page for a while. I’m happy to start playing baseball. That’s the biggest thing.”