D-backs make five roster moves, reinstate Pollock from DL
Jul 2, 2018, 2:58 PM | Updated: 4:23 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock (11) celebrates with Steven Souza, left, and Deven Marrero after hitting an RBI single in the ninth inning to defeat the Houston Astros 4-3 in a baseball game Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock is in the lineup Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals as he returns from a disabled list stint due to an avulsion fracture in his left thumb.
Pollock was reinstated from the DL before the game as one of five moves by the D-backs. The team optioned Silvino Bracho and Christian Walker to Triple-A Reno and released Troy Scribner. They also purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Joey Krehbiel, who will be making his Major League roster debut on Monday.
Pollock last played for the D-backs on May 14, when a diving attempt at a catch resulted in the thumb injury.
He said before the game his body told him he was ready to go. Pollock’s thumb has been ready for a while but it was more about getting his legs under him in terms of coming back.
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“I’m thankful that the guys here trusted me and allowed me to play a couple games and get back,” he said.
The outfielder played in two rehab games with Triple-A Reno prior to his MLB return. Pollock was hitless Friday in four at-bats but recorded three hits and walked once on Saturday. He tallied a home run, a double, three RBI and seven total bases.
“Swing feels good,” Pollock said. “Everything feels good.”
The Diamondbacks open their three-game series against St. Louis after losing three straight home games in a weekend series against the San Francisco Giants.
Before the injury, Pollock was not only the D-backs’ best player but garnering early-season buzz as an MVP candidate. A day after the injury, a poll of 32 team writers for MLB.com saw 22 votes go in favor of Pollock for MVP at that point.
Pollock was slashing .293/.349/.620 and leading the league in WAR.
He will bat cleanup on Monday.
Krehbiel, 25, has pitched in 29 games for the Aces, giving up 10 earned runs in 36.2 innings for an ERA of 2.45. He was a non-roster invitee to the team’s spring training. Krehbiel excels against right-handed hitters, where he has limited them to a .179 average since 2013.
Bracho recently pitched two innings against the Giants on Sunday while Walker also played on Sunday, making his first MLB start in left field and hitting 2-for-5.
Scribner made one start for the D-backs in mid-May, giving up two runs in 3.2 innings. He was 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA for Reno.
