CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz could begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as this week if everything goes well Monday and Tuesday when he runs on the field in front of the team’s medical staff.The Reds’ star shortstop has been on the injured list since June 1 after suffering a strained right hamstring during a victory over the Atlanta Braves on May 31. De La Cruz has been anxious to return for at least a week, Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday, but the team wants to be cautious not to rush him back too soon.“The one thing I don’t want him to ever feel is that, one, we’re not listening to him, and, two, we don’t want him to play — we’re dying for him to play,” Francona said before the Reds’ series opener against the New York Mets. “I just don’t think you can do what’s right when it’s convenient. That’s the best way. And I think down deep I think he understands. I just think he wants to play desperately and I respect that a lot. He really just wants to play.”Francona said De La Cruz could go out for a rehab assignment “this weekend,” though the team hasn’t yet determined where that will be. None of their four full-season affiliates are at home this weekend. Double-A Chattanooga may be the closest, playing this week at Knoxville, Tenn. The Triple-A Louisville Bats may be in the most convenient spot, playing at Gwinnett (Ga.) in suburban Atlanta. High-A Dayton is at Peoria (Ill.) and Low-A Daytona is playing at Port St. Lucie (Fla.).