Spring Headlines: A.J. Pollock hopes to return this season

The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered a terrible blow on Friday when All-Star outfielder A.J. Pollock fractured his right elbow sliding into home plate. It was actually Pollock’s first game back after a three-week absence to deal with soreness in the same elbow. Apparently, it just wasn’t strong enough to hold up, and now Arizona is without a key piece from its NL-leading offense from 2015.

Any optimism that Pollock could bounce back quickly was also dashed on Friday when manager Chip Hale announced that his elbow would require surgery. Dr. Don Sheridan, the D-backs’ orthopedic hand and upper extremity specialist, will perform the surgery once it’s scheduled.

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Once completed, the Diamondbacks will have a realistic idea of Pollock’s timetable. For now though, Pollock insists he will fight to get back on the field again this season, which is all D-Backs fans can hope to hear at this point.

“I’m going to push for it, yeah,” Pollock said on Saturday. “That’s going to be my goal.”

Pollock has been here before. In 2010, he fractured the same elbow during spring training and ended up missing the entire season. It’s tough to say whether this scenario will play out differently, but Pollock says he’s more prepared from a mental standpoint.

“Way more equipped to handle it this time around. Just go in and get it right and never have a problem with it again. Very confident that the guy that I have doing it this time is going to nail it. It’s not a fun process, but you grow as a person. You just take it day to day.”

Hale says the D-Backs will roll with rookie Socrates Brito and usual infielder Chris Owings in center field for now. How long that lasts though also remains to be seen.

OTHER SPRING HEADLINES

Making room: The Yankees traded catcher Carlos Corporan to the Rays to make room for Austin Romine. [@TBTimes_Rays]

Uh oh: A’s fifth starter Felix Doubront left Saturday’s spring finale with left forearm tightness. [@susanslusser]

Expensive cut: The Braves designated Michael Bourn and his $14 million salary for assignment on Saturday. [The Stew]

Another one down: Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena will miss at least two weeks. He needs surgery to repair loose bodies in his left knee. [@markasaxon]

Welcome aboard: The Brewers signed veteran reliever Carlos Torres to a one-year deal. [@DWolfsonKSTP]

What could have been: Here’s what every MLB team would look like if no trades or free agent signings were allowed. [SB Nation]

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