D-backs’ Pollock continues torrid pace with HR in first at-bat against Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock has had quite the start to 2018.

After being named the National League’s Player of the Month in April, Pollock was the NL Player of the Week as the season transitioned into May.

So, in his first at-bat this week, Pollock naturally hit a two-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill to give the D-backs a 2-0 lead. All three career hits for Pollock off Hill have been home runs.

Pollock’s long ball marked his 11th of the season, tying him with Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon for the second-most in the National League. He had three of those 11 homers in one game against the Dodgers on April 30.

With the pace Pollock is setting and his impending free agency, the discussion has now become if the D-backs will be able to keep Pollock, and all indications are he is going to make a whole lot of money this upcoming offseason.

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, that could be a deal worth nine figures.

If Pollock stays healthy and keeps performing at a high level, he might end up with a deal closer to Charlie Blackmon’s recent six-year, $108 million contract with the Rockies — if not above.

Pollock’s home run marked the start of already the fourth meeting between the two ball clubs. The Dodgers will have played 36 games in the season following Wednesday’s contest against Arizona and a third of those will have been against the D-backs.

The Dodgers have not enjoyed those meetings, as Arizona entered Tuesday night with a 7-3 record against their NL West rival.

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