Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Pollock Out For 2016?
The Diamondbacks’ best chance at a playoff berth is with a healthy A.J. Pollock.
Unfortunately for them, a healthy A.J. Pollock may not be back on the field in 2016 unless the Diamondbacks can get to October without him.
Pollock, who underwent right elbow surgery on Tuesday, has vowed to return this season, but the doctor who performed the surgery offered a more pragmatic view of the outfielder’s prognosis Saturday.
“If everything goes extremely well it’s going to be at least three months before A.J. is going to be released to start baseball activities,” hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan said. “It could be the entire season, but I’m very hopeful and look forward to the day that we see A.J. run out of the dugout and take his position and have a good playoffs this year.”
The recent procedure was actually related to elbow surgery Pollock underwent in 2010. A screw inserted into his elbow during the first surgery had broken, so Sheridan removed the broken screw this time around. He also drilled into Pollock’s pelvis to collect some bone, which he then put in the elbow in hopes it will heal fully this time around.
In Pollock’s absence, the Diamondbacks have used a platoon of Socrates Brito and Chris Owings in center field. Brito is 2-for-10 without an extra-base hit in four games, including two starts in center. Owings is batting .211 with two RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base. He also has zero extra-base hits through six games.
The regular season is off and running, so be sure to keep refreshing Rotoworld’s constantly-updating player news page for all the latest. And while you’re at it, follow @Rotoworld_BB and @nate_grimm if you are on Twitter.
Ross Hits The Shelf
Tyson Ross was surely anxious to get back on the mound after a rough season debut, but he’ll have to wait a little longer now.
Ross was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with right shoulder inflammation. The move is retroactive to Ross’s Opening Day start on April 5, meaning he can be activated as early as April 20.
Ross hit the shelf after feeling something in his right shoulder during a bullpen session. Padres manager Andy Green described the move as “precautionary,” saying the team would rather be safe than sorry with its ace.
“We’re very optimistic with Tyson,” Green said. “I think it’s precautionary by nature. The possibility existed where he could try to push through it, but it just doesn’t make sense right now. Let’s just try to take care of him, make sure he’s ready to go as quickly as possible. It’s putting his health at the top.”
Ross will take a couple days off from throwing, but the injury doesn’t sound like one that will keep him sidelined for long. Robbie Erlin, recalled Friday, will start Tuesday, with James Shields starting Sunday’s series finale against the Rockies on regular rest.
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White Noise
Move over, Trevor Story. There’s a new, uh, story dominating MLB headlines these days.
The Hansel to Story’s Zoolander, Tyler White is so hot right now after homering in his third straight game Friday. White took Brewers starter Wily Peralta deep, helping the Astros to a 6-4 victory.
White was among the biggest surprises this spring, batting .353 with three home runs to win the Astros’ first base job. The former 33rd-round draft pick beat out higher profile players Jonathan Singleton and A.J. Reed to earn the distinction.
And he isn’t just toiling near the bottom of the lineup while he gets his feet wet. White moved up to the fifth spot in the lineup for Friday’s game, hitting between Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez, and could continue to climb.
“Tyler White‘s hard to shake. He doesn’t look like he would be affected by whether I put him anywhere from leadoff to ninth,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He can hit.”
White has hits in each of his first five major league games and is 10-for-15 with two doubles, three homers, nine RBI and three runs scored overall.
National League Quick Hits: Jacob deGrom won’t require an MRI for his lat but Mets manager Terry Collins said the muscle is still “very sore,” casting doubt on his next scheduled start. The ailment forced deGrom to leave Thursday’s game prematurely … The Giants and first baseman Brandon Belt have agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to Alex Pavlovic of CSN Bay Area. The deal will buy out Belt’s final year of arbitration and four years of free agency … The Dodgers placed Carl Crawford on the disabled list with lower back soreness. The Dodgers have plenty of outfield help and don’t need to rush Crawford back, despite the idea that he’ll be ready for activation when first eligible … Matt Kemp and the Padres continue to make up for lost time, putting up 16 runs in a win over the Rockies on Saturday. Kemp homered twice and is now batting .429 with four homers and 10 RBI, and the week isn’t over … Vincent Velasquez struck out nine Mets hitters over six innings in a combined shutout. Velasquez was one of the big pieces the Phillies got from the Astros in return for Ken Giles this past winter … The Dodgers signed lefty reliever Sean Burnett to a minor league contract. He can opt out of the deal if he isn’t on the team’s major league roster by May 1 … Tor the “make of this what you will” department: Jeanmar Gomez converted a save for the Phillies on Friday. Given their struggles, it’s a good bet that he’ll be the one used the next time the Phillies have a save opportunity, presumably sometime in late May.
American League Quick Hits: Shin-Soo Choo was scratched Saturday with a strained right calf. Not a great sign, but the Rangers are confident he’ll avoid the disabled list … Adam Jones (rib cage) missed his third straight start Saturday. There remain no alarms going off for Jones, who could be back in the lineup as soon as Sunday … Yu Darvish (elbow) threw 50 pitches on Saturday and will throw live batting practice on Wednesday. If he gets through three live batting practice sessions, Darvish will then set out on a six-start rehab assignment possibly culminating in late May … The ghost of Rich Hill, the one that struck everybody out last season, returned to haunt the Mariners on Saturday. Hill struck out 10 M’s in six innings to earn the victory … Jose Bautista has Rick Porcello‘s number, and he rang it twice Saturday. Bautista hit two, two-run home runs off Porcello, but the Jays fell to the Red Sox … Ian Kennedy enjoyed a fine Royals debut, holding the Twins scoreless over 6 2/3 innings. Kennedy struck out seven as he showed no ill effects of the hamstring tightness that bothered him earlier in the week … C.J. Wilson (shoulder) has been cleared to resume throwing. The southpaw will begin a throwing program Monday at the Angels’ spring training facility in Arizona in hopes of returning to the big club sometime next month.
