Snake bites

• Shortstop Willie Bloomquist, who tore his right oblique muscle during Spring Training, will begin playing in extended spring training games Thursday.

After he plays there for a day or two, the D-backs will determine the Minor League affiliate and length of time for his rehab assignment.

"He's been out since the beginning of the season so he needs to play some baseball, definitely," manager Kirk Gibson said. "To get up to speed, No. 1, and the other part is just to make sure he's healthy to play some sustained games."

• There's still no timetable for second baseman Aaron Hill. A CT scan taken Monday of his fractured left hand showed there was more healing that needed to take place before he could take the brace off his hand.

"It's just not healing enough to move him onto the next step," Gibson said. "We had hoped he was ready, but he's not."

• Outfielder Adam Eaton, who is recovering from an elbow injury, has increased his throwing distance to 135 feet.

Eaton, who has been strictly serving as the designated hitter during his Minor League rehab assignment, is slated to play in the field for the first time Friday.