Hanley Ramirez expects to be back in the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup "way sooner" than mid-May, which was the original target date for his return from right thumb surgery.

Ramirez has begun taking batting practice and fielding grounders.

"It's awesome. No pain, nothing," Ramirez said. "Definitely it's going to happen way sooner than it's supposed to."

Ramirez wouldn't reveal exactly when he might return, saying it was a surprise.

"I'm going to tweet it," he said.