Matthew Bain

azcentral sports

Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock took a significant step in his rehab Monday, when he did some light throwing with a tennis ball. It was his first baseball activity since he broke his right elbow on April 2 — albeit some very tepid baseball activity.

On Tuesday, Pollock said he hopes to keep throwing with a tennis ball until the All-Star break and bump up to throwing baseballs after the break.

“It’s been kind of a breeze. Everything, the strength of it is pretty much all the way back,” Pollock said. “Obviously there’s a couple things here and there strength-wise to get up to where I was, but considering I’m 12 weeks out of surgery, I’m pretty close to being 100 percent in my opinion.”

Pollock’s rehab is decently aligning with how the D-Backs hoped it would. After his surgery on April 5, Arizona pegged July 1 as the target date for Pollock to resume baseball activity.

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When asked if he'd play again this season, Pollock said he “for sure” would.

When asked the same question, D-Backs manager Chip Hale hesitated to give a firm answer. He said he'd like to see Pollock in the lineup some time in August or September, but he wants to watch Pollock throw and swing the bat before he can confidently estimate any timetable.

“I would hope he can play at some point, whether it’s a week to go in the season,” Hale said. “It’s just important not to sit down the whole year, if you can. If he can physically get back out there and compete at this level, I think it’s really really important for him. Hopefully he will.”

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In April, Pollock said his rehab was progressing more smoothly than rehab after his elbow surgery in 2010, when he missed the entire season.

Live hitting for Peralta and Owings

Arizona didn’t take regular batting practice before Tuesday’s game against the Padres. Most position players hit a bit in the cages while pitchers hit out on the field.

D-Backs outfielder David Peralta joined them for his first live batting practice since a stiff lower back landed him on the disabled list retroactive to June 15.

“It feels good, it’s been feeling really good, I’m excited,” Peralta said. “I just can’t wait to be back to the game and help the team.”

Peralta said he won’t come back to the D-Backs’ lineup until after the All-Star break. He was hitting .259 with four home runs and 15 RBIs at the time of his injury. He's only played 41 games this season, having missed most of May with a right wrist injury.

MORE: Struggling slugger O'Brien demoted to Triple-A

Hale said infielder/outfielder Chris Owings hit live pitching with the D-Backs’ Arizona League team on Tuesday. Owings was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 11 after discomfort from plantar fasciitis in his left foot lingered longer than he’d hoped. He last played on June 5, when he was hitting .285 with two home runs and 18 RBIs.

“He’s feeling good,” Hale said. “Everything is staying in line for him to probably start games next week some time.”

Once they're back, Peralta and Owings will ease the load on 33-year-old Michael Bourn, who got the starting nod Tuesday and has started 16 of the last 18 games. Hale has said he doesn't like starting Bourn this often if he can avoid it, but he doesn't have much of a choice. Yasmany Tomas and Phil Gosselin are currently his two backups in center, he said.

Short hops

Reliever Daniel Hudson was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday and will return to the D-Backs in San Francisco on Saturday. He's allowed 11 earned runs over his last six appearances (three innings) for an unsightly 33.00 ERA. Before that he was 1-1 with a 1.55 ERA through 30 appearances.

"Hopefully we’ll get him in a couple games before the All-Star break and get it right and feel good about how he ends the half," Hale said. "And get the other break there and his arm will be ready to rock.”

Wednesday’s game

Padres at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (2-8, 6.85) vs. Padres RHP Colin Rea (0-4, 9.15).

TV/Radio: FSAZ, FSAZ+/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

Miller’s brutal season continued last week when he gave up five runs in six innings in a loss to the San Francisco Giants. … He has a 6.27 ERA in three starts since returning from the disabled list. … Lefties have a .992 OPS against Miller this season; righties are at .809. … Rea is coming off one of his better starts of the year. He gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings, with one walk and five strikeouts, against the New York Yankees. … He has just six quality starts out of 15. … He throws a fastball that averages 92 mph along with cutters, curveballs and the occasional splitter, according to Pitch-f/x data.

Coming up

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-6, 4.90) vs. Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-5, 3.97).

Saturday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (4-7, 4.78) vs. Giants RHP Jake Peavy (5-7, 5.04).

Sunday: At San Francisco, 5:05 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Archie Bradley (3-4, 4.81) vs. Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-4, 2.20)*.

*-- Entering Tuesday.

Reach Bain at mbain@arizonarepublic.com or follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain10.