LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Chipper Jones had no desire to sit around another five days to wait to see if he'd have the opportunity to prove more productive in the World Baseball Classic. Thus the veteran third baseman returned to Braves camp on Monday morning with the hope that he'll be able to resume playing again by the end of the week.

Jones left the United States team on Sunday night after feeling a twinge in the same right oblique muscle that he'd slightly strained exactly one week earlier during the first round of the Classic in Toronto.

While Jones' days in this year's Classic are complete, he doesn't seem too concerned about the possibility that this ailment could continue to bother him for an extended period. Having experienced similar discomfort multiple times throughout his career, the 36-year-old veteran believes he could be back in Braves manager Bobby Cox's lineup within the next five days.

"It's not as bad as it has been," Jones said. "I've done this a hundred times. The whole reason for coming home was they were going to be extra cautious with this being the second time it happened in a week."

Jones felt some discomfort in his right side during a March 8 game against Venezuela and didn't return to action until Saturday night, when he went hitless in three pain-free at-bats. The discomfort didn't return until he slightly overextended while hitting a long batting practice homer on Sunday night.

After hitting the blast that he said traveled an estimated 450 feet into the right-field seats, Jones exited the cage and put his thumb in his right side. This action prompted Team USA hitting coach Reggie Smith to tell him not do anything that could cause further aggravation.

A short time later, after being informed by the team's medical staff that he wouldn't be able to play again for five days, Jones decided to return to Braves camp. Had he stayed, he may have been cleared to play in the Classic semifinals that are scheduled to begin on Saturday.

"I wasn't going to sit around a hotel room for five days," Jones said. "I'd much rather be around [the Braves'] training staff, treat [the aliment] aggressively and, hopefully, get back into some action in two or three days."

After originally feeling the discomfort in Toronto last week, Jones felt he was healthy enough to return in three days. With nearly three full weeks before the start of the regular season, the Braves may choose to rest him until the beginning of next week.

Jones underwent some ultrasound treatment at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Monday morning and exited with more confidence that he's dealing with a minor ailment that he's occasionally battled over the past few years.

"I felt it more just standing around [after tweaking it] last night," Jones said. "But I'm fine this morning. It's sore to stick your thumb in there. It's sore to do some rotations and whatnot. But just standing here it's fine."

Although he struck out six times and went hitless in 10 at-bats, Jones said he enjoyed the opportunity to play for Team USA and share a clubhouse with many of the game's other superstars. But he believes the Classic organizers are going to have to reduce the amount of idle time that the players experience.

"I wouldn't trade the experience for anything ... [but] there are way too many days off," Jones said. "This tournament could be over by now. There are way too many days off and too much down time."

The Braves received some other encouraging health-related news on Monday, when Garret Anderson was able to swing the bat without any discomfort. The 36-year-old outfielder, who has been sidelined since March 6 with a strained right calf, may be cleared to resume running exercises later this week.