ATLANTA -- Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte spent time on the visitor's side of the field before batting practice Saturday visiting with his former D-backs teammates, but he made it clear that once the game started that winning was going to be the only thing on his mind.
Inciarte, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday, was dealt to the Braves from Arizona in the blockbuster trade that delivered Shelby Miller to the D-backs.
"I'm not going to lie," Inciarte said. "It was difficult. When I got traded, I was a little sad at the beginning. I lived my entire life with the Diamondbacks, you know? As soon as I got traded, I saw the other part of the coin and knew that it was also going to be positive for me. I'm here right now, they've got plans for me and hopefully I'm going to stick with one team for what's left of my career."
The D-backs traded Inciarte because they felt confident they had enough depth in their outfield. When center fielder A.J. Pollock fractured his right elbow sliding into home three days before Opening Day, the D-backs found themselves in need of a player with Inciarte's defensive skills.
"It's a bad feeling," Inciarte said of his reaction when he saw the replay of Pollock's injury on TV. "He's a great player, he's an All-Star. I know the Diamondbacks suffer a lot for his loss. But they've got good players and hopefully A.J. is going to get healthy and hopefully he's going to be able to come back this year."
Chris Owings, who came up in the Arizona system as a shortstop before playing second base last year, has gotten the majority of the playing time in center. It is his first time playing in the outfield since before high school.
Inciarte played in the Minors with Owings and knew him as strictly an infielder.
"It's a little weird, but I saw C.O. making good catches," Inciarte said. "Hopefully he's going to get used to it. He's a great guy."