Bender (back) began a rehab assignment with the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Coast League affiliate Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bender has been sidelined since late May due to his back injury, but it's encouraging that he's now been cleared to return to game action. His rehab assignment will shift to Single-A Jupiter on Sunday, and he'll likely be in the mix to rejoin the Marlins shortly after the All-Star break.