PHOENIX -- Mark Trumbo’s long recovery from right knee surgery took a step forward on Tuesday, as the veteran designated hitter began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.

This isn’t Trumbo’s first rehab stint since he underwent surgery last September. The 33-year-old played eight games between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie earlier this season, but he had a setback after a game on June 11. Two days after that, he received a platelet-rich plasma injection.

On Tuesday, Trumbo started at designated hitter and batted second for the Tides, going 1-for-4 with a single.

“Hopefully, he feels good,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s made a lot of progress these last few weeks after he got shut down and then kind of ramped it back up with his rehab, and he’s feeling a lot better.”

During the Orioles’ last homestand, Trumbo fielded fly balls in the outfield, took batting practice with the team and ran the bases.

“We’re hoping that everything checks out and he’s able to recover from games, then we’ll go from there,” Hyde said.

Trumbo hasn’t played a game for the Orioles since Aug. 19, 2018. Last year, the two-time All-Star batted .261/.313/.452 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs in 90 games.

Karns’ rehab continues

Veteran right-hander Nate Karns (right forearm strain) returned to Class A Advanced Frederick to continue his rehab on Tuesday night, tossing two scoreless innings. It was Karns’ seventh rehab start since June 25.

On July 12, Karns pitched for Frederick and allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Last Wednesday for Double-A Bowie, he gave up one run in two innings.

Like Trumbo, Karns has had a rocky recovery path. Following two rehab appearances in late April, the righty was shut down after experiencing discomfort.

Before his injury, Karns tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings over four games for the Orioles.

Nunez returns to third

After Renato Núñez joined the Orioles in May 2018, he made all 56 of his starts for the club last season at third base. However, entering Tuesday, he had played only one inning there this year.

But Hyde wanted both Nunez and Chris Davis in Tuesday’s lineup against the D-backs, and since there’s no designated hitter at the National League ballpark, Nunez made his first start at third base this season.

Last year, Nune had a .946 fielding percentage in 59 games at third, committing seven errors in 470 2/3 innings. This season, he has primarily served as the club’s DH (76 of his 87 starts), but he has made 10 starts at first base, including Monday’s series opener.

Nunez said he has been fielding ground balls at third every day and was eager for the opportunity to be back at the hot corner.

“It feels great to be back over there,” Nunez said. “I’m going to practice a lot, take a lot of ground balls and just enjoy the time there.”