D-backs manager Kirk Gibson: Daniel Hudson, Chris Owings, A.J. Pollock, Cody Ross may return soon
Aug 30, 2014, 12:52 AM | Updated: 1:22 am
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said a trio of injured players — pitcher Daniel Hudson, shortstop Chris Owings and outfielder A.J. Pollock — will likely rejoin the team in a few days, and injured outfielder Cody Ross might not be far behind.
“All those three guys will be back, if not on (Sept. 1), shortly thereafter,” Gibson said of Hudson, Owings and Pollock, adding that Hudson “will be coming back for sure.”
Hudson hasn’t played since early in the 2012 season, as he’s undergone a pair of Tommy John surgeries to repair his elbow. The D-backs acquired Hudson from the Chicago White Sox in 2010, and the right-hander made a spectacular first impression, posting a 1.69 ERA in his first 11 starts with the team.
Hudson pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday and is scheduled to pitch for Reno again Friday night.
Owings has been on the disabled list since June 29 with a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old is hitting .271 with six home runs, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases in 72 games this season.
Pollock, who hasn’t played for the D-backs since May 31 due to a hand injury, is hitting .316 with six homers, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases in 52 appearances in 2014.
Gibson didn’t offer a timetable for the return of Ross, who has been out with a calf injury since late July, but said the 33-year-old who had 22 home runs and 81 RBI for the Boston Red Sox in 2012 has shown progress in batting practice.
“Just watching him take BP the last couple times, I’ve seen that his bat is much quicker than it was all year,” Gibson said of Ross, who also missed the final seven weeks of the 2013 season with a hip injury.
“I think that this next offseason, he’s going to have more of a normal baseball offseason to prepare and work on certainly his hitting, swinging the bat, and his strength and conditioning in a different light.”
