Diamondbacks’ Peralta close to extended spring training games

In a season where two starting outfielders for the Arizona Diamondbacks have been ailing and unable to play for weeks, it looks like one of them is getting close to returning.

Manager Chip Hale told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Tuesday that David Peralta is making progress and is starting to get hitting work in.

“I know he did some dry swings and some tees yesterday,” Hale said. “Today I think he was going to hit off the tee and do some flips from a coach and it’s just the hitting progression.”

Peralta was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 15 because of a right wrist injury, but hasn’t played in a game since May 8. He was hitting .260, including a .321 on base percentage, to go along with three home runs in 33 games before his injury.

The outfield has been a problem for the Diamondbacks all season, as All-Star center-fielder A.J. Pollock fractured his right elbow in a spring training game on April 1, and hasn’t yet appeared in the regular season. Ten different faces have covered the grass, but not all of them have even been outfielders, as starting pitcher Shelby Miller even got some time in left field.

So any physical work that Peralta is able to do bodes well for his return and the return of one of Arizona’s anchors in the outfield.

“Once he gets strong enough, and the next day he comes in and feels good, then yeah, we’ll probably get him some extended games and we’ll see where we are going to go from there,” Hale said.