Pollock lands on DL with groin injury

PHOENIX -- Saturday afternoon, D-backs outfielder A.J. Pollock was in manager Torey Lovullo's office, letting his skipper know that he was feeling great and did not need a second off-day in less than a week.
Lovullo, erring on the side of caution, had been giving Pollock days off after he played just 12 games last year due to a fractured elbow and a left groin strain.
One day later, Pollock was back in the lineup and pulled up lame while running to first base on a single. Monday, he had an MRI, was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right groin and placed on the 10-day disabled list.
Rey Fuentes had his contracted selected from Triple-A Reno to take Pollock's place. Right-hander Enrique Burgos was designated for assignment to make room for Fuentes on the 40-man roster.
"I got some good news today," Pollock said. "It's kind of a mild, Grade 1 strain. Less than last year, which was nice."

Pollock worked to return from the fractured elbow last year only to be shut down after experiencing the left groin strain. This spring, he had some tightness in the left groin but did not miss significant time. This time it was the right groin that gave way.
"It doesn't hurt as much as it did last year," Pollock said. "Not as severe. The trainers are really positive about it and so am I. I couldn't tell you which day, but I'm sure I'll be feeling pretty good in the next couple of days, and I'll be running around pretty soon."
The D-backs will make sure to take their time in bringing Pollock back.
"We're presently putting together a road map as to what the [rehab] process will be," Lovullo said. "We aren't going to rush through any of this process. When he returns, he's going to be 100 percent, he's going to be ahead of this injury and ready to contribute at the level he was contributing at prior to the injury."
Neither Lovullo nor general manager Mike Hazen wanted to speculate on a possible timeline for Pollock's return.
Fuentes, who was hitting .376 with eight doubles and three triples in 34 games for Reno, got the nod over Jeremy Hazelbaker because Fuentes is primarily a center fielder. He will split time with Grégor Blanco while Pollock is out.

"Just the specific need for center field at this time was really the separator," Hazen said, referring to the choice between Fuentes and Hazelbaker. "Both guys are down there playing really well, both guys are hitting, both guys are playing well. It was a tough call, but that's where we sided on that one."