SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- D-backs outfielders A.J. Pollock and Yasmany Tomas are working their way back from their various injuries and should return to Cactus League action shortly, manager Chip Hale said on Monday.
Tomas has been nursing a sore left knee and Pollock a sore right elbow. Pollock has only eight at-bats this spring and hasn't played since March 8. Tomas has only four at-bats and hasn't played since March 4.
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Tomas said he hit Monday on the back fields, and Pollock gave two thumbs up when asked about his elbow.
"Yesterday, it was one and a half, today it's two," Pollock said.
Asked when he might be ready to play, Pollock added: "Ahhhh, I don't know. Ask Chip."
OK, here we go.
Hale on Pollock: "Pollock is going to start to get on it, do with more with his arm. He threw a little bit. He's been tracking a lot. So I would say with him by the weekend, hopefully next Monday, he should be in games."
Hale on Tomas: "Tomas hit today again for the second day. We're off tomorrow, it's a scheduled off-day. He'll get back on it and, hopefully, he'll be able to play on Thursday or Friday."
It should be noted that the season opens April 4 against the Rockies at Chase Field, which doesn't give either player much time to round into shape.
In the meantime, a spirted battle has developed for outfield spots with Peter O'Brien emerging in recent days and Socrates Brito having an excellent spring. On Sunday, in an 11-4 D-backs win over the White Sox at Camelback Ranch, O'Brien hit two of his three spring homers and knocked in five of his 10 RBIs. Brito is batting .450 (9-for-20) with a homer and five RBIs.
"In the last four days, I think Pete has really blossomed in front of us into the guy we're really excited about," Hale said. "With Brito doing well, and hopefully Tomas coming back and doing well, we're going to have a whole lot of decisions to make."