D-backs’ Torey Lovullo: A.J. Pollock pounded the table to return

PHOENIX – It was just a week ago when center fielder A.J. Pollock was cleared to resume baseball activities. And only three days ago in which he played in his first rehab game. Yet, there was his name written in the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup on Monday.

Pollock will hit cleanup, behind third baseman Jake Lamb, in the D-backs’ series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It’s been seven weeks since Pollock last played a big-league game. He’s been sidelined with a broken left thumb, an injury he suffered attempting to make a diving play in the outfield on May 14.

At the time, the D-backs projected a four-to-eight week timetable for Pollock’s return.

“He worked as hard as he possibly could to make this moment happen,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

In two rehab games with Triple-A Reno, Pollock went 3-for-7 (.429) with one double, one home run, three RBI, one walk and three runs scored. He also stole a base.

All three hits, by the way, came in game two on Saturday. And it was after that game that the decision was made to reinstate Pollock to the active roster.

“Once the medical team signed off on it for me, there was zero debate and A.J. basically was pounding the table to say that he was ready,” Lovullo said.

“I called him after a game a couple of days ago because I had a text message that long that said, ‘I’m ready and here are the reasons why.’ I said we need to walk through a few more things but I like what I hear from you. I basically made up my mind at that point.”

Pollock’s return comes at a good time. The D-backs entered Monday’s game having just been swept by the San Francisco Giants, who outscored the D-backs 18-7 in the three-game series.

Pollock’s bat, and of course his defense, will be a welcome addition. At the time of his injury, he ranked among the league leaders in slugging pct. (first; .620), RBI (second; 33), extra-base hits (second; 24), home runs (tied for third; 11) and on-base pct. (seventh; .969).

Still, the D-backs will be cautious with their All-Star outfielder.

“He wants to play every day. He makes that perfectly clear. He does not like to come out of the lineup, and I love that. But, moving forward, I explained to him that we’re going to control his playing time and his innings until he’s 100-percent removed from any more things popping up. And we got to avoid those types of things,” Lovullo said.

“When these guys come back, they play as hard as they possibly can and sometimes rest is needed and A.J. is going to fall right into that category.”

Meanwhile, the D-backs’ other injured outfielder, Steven Souza Jr., is scheduled to play right field with Reno on Monday. It will be his first time in the field.

Out with a strained right pectoral, Souza has only served as a designated hitter. In four minor-league rehab games, he’s batting .438 (7-for-16) with one double, two triples, three RBI and three walks.

“My conversations with him have led me to think that he his arm is feeling good,” Lovullo said. “Playing right field today (with Reno) should not be an issue but waking up tomorrow will be an indication as to how he recovers from the game. So I can’t give you a timeline as far as what will happen beyond tonight, but he’s getting close and the fact that he’s playing in a game and playing right field is a very good sign.”

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