D-backs outfielder A.J. Pollock to FOX Sports Arizona: ‘I’m right there’

More than three-and-a-half months have passed since Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock underwent a complex elbow surgery to repair a poorly-healed rebreak of a 2010 injury.

In other words, it’s a few weeks beyond the minimum three-month timeline Dr. Don Sheridan placed on Pollock’s recovery.

Wednesday morning, Pollock took in his first batting practice and told FOX Sports Arizona he’s mentally prepared to make his return.

Whether that comes soon, in a few weeks or even a couple months remains a mystery to Pollock.

“Doctors — we’re just kind of communicating with them, making sure they’re comfortable with what we’re doing,” Pollock said in an interview with FOX Sports Arizona. “I’m not going and doing any CT scans or X-rays. It’s all done. It’s just a matter of getting the volume. You play every single day in baseball so there’s a progression not only to get the right distance on the throws and the right amount of swings but to do it back-to-back days and then do it three days in a row.

“They just want to make sure that when I’m out there, there’s no setbacks and I can worry about playing.”

The Diamondbacks have no reason to rush the 2015 All-Star back, especially if they continue to slump.

But as Chip Hale’s job security becomes more of a storyline, there could be time left for Arizona to make a realistic-or-not-so-realistic attempt at salvaging the season.

Friday could be telling. Hale hopes to have third baseman Jake Lamb back after sitting out the last few games with a banged up hand, and outfielder David Peralta is likely to return to the majors after a rehab stint with Triple-A Reno. Ace Zack Greinke, meanwhile, is expected to throw a rookie league game as he returns from an oblique injury.

If the D-backs begin turning things around in the next week, perhaps they will have more urgency to speed up Pollock’s return to the field.

Whenever they decide to set a timeline, it could still be a bit before Pollock works his way back to the majors.

“As long as he’s been out, you’d start all the way at the bottom and then work your way up,” Hale told the Associated Press, referring to Pollock’s possible rehab assignments.

But for what it’s worth, Pollock feels ready.

“I’m right there,” the center fielder said. “I feel like there’s a couple more progressions that the trainers and everyone want to see. They don’t want to rush me back.

“I don’t know exactly when they’re going to let me start that, but I think that’s soon.”

Pollock taking BP on the field. pic.twitter.com/Qp7GLl629t

— Chris Gabel (@Chris_Gabel) July 27, 2016

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