PHOENIX -- The D-backs will activate outfielder A.J. Pollock for Friday's series opener against the Reds at Chase Field.
Pollock has missed the entire season after suffering a fractured right elbow in an exhibition game on April 1. He will be starting in center field upon his return.
"He had a good game last night in Reno, day off today, and he will be activated tomorrow," Arizona manager Chip Hale said before Thursday's game against the Braves. "Everyone that I've talked to, when I saw him in his first simulated game situations off [starter] Rubby [De La Rosa], he looked great. Everybody says he's ready to go."
Pollock hit .425 with three homers and 12 RBIs during his 12-game rehab assignment, split among Triple-A Reno, Class A Advanced Visalia and the Arizona Rookie League. In his last rehab game with Reno on Wednesday, Pollock went 3-for-5 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored.
After Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Braves, the D-backs optioned outfielder Mitch Haniger to Triple-A Reno to make room for Pollock.
Haniger hit .237 (9-for-38) with six RBIs in 10 games for Arizona, his first stint in the Majors in his career.
Hale said the plan for Pollock's playing time will likely be to play two days, then take a day off. It will also affect how much the D-backs will play other outfielders, such as Michael Bourn, Yasmany Tomás and Brandon Drury.
Arizona has sorely missed Pollock, who was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove in 2015. He hit .315 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs last season.
Pollock has impressed the clubs and trainers during his recovery. There was initial uncertainty whether the outfielder would even make it back on the field this season.
Worth noting
• De La Rosa (right elbow inflammation) had a change in the next step of his recovery process. He said he will be throwing a simulated game Monday at Salt River Fields.
• Outfielder Tomas (mid-back stiffness) was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day Thursday, but entered the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Tomas left Tuesday's game against the Braves prior to the eighth inning.
Hale said the team still doesn't see it as an issue moving forward.
"He's told me he felt better," Hale said. "Just want to see it in the cage and get him out there on the field, running around, throwing, before we put him in the lineup."