Right-hander Miller ready to start rehab
Nearly two weeks after Tommy John surgery, Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller is ready to start rehabilitation.
“It feels good,” said Miller, speaking to reporters for the first time since having the procedure. “To finally get out of that cast I was in is nice. (I can get) a little bit more mobile in this (brace) and I actually get to start doing some rehab stuff, so it’s good to get off my butt and be doing something other than sitting on the couch.”
Miller opted for surgery at the end of April after tests revealed a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in addition to a flexor tendon strain. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure May 10. He also removed a bone spur.
“That should be something that helps me in the future, because I could feel it sometimes,” Miller said of the bone spur. “It would jar me a little bit when they do the test on me in spring training in like the physicals and stuff. It never affected me, but it’s something they could clear up and get out of the way (so I) don’t have to worry about it in the future.”
Before the surgery, Miller had been in the midst of a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2016 that included a demotion to the minors. He finished 2017 at 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA.
He's still not sure of a timetable for a possible return.
“These days, everybody’s telling you to take it slower and that longer is better,” Miller said. “And a lot of people say you’ll be ready to start going in 10 months. It’s tough to say. Obviously, if I’m feeling good, I’m going to want to pitch and get back as soon as possible . ... But at the end of the day you have to do it right and do it in the right way. It’s not something you rush because you don’t want it to happen again.”
Pollock update
A.J. Pollock, on the disabled list since May 15 with a right-groin strain, had a light workout Tuesday and hit in the batting cage. Manager Torey Lovullo, however, said he still wasn't sure when the center fielder would return.
“(It's) looking very good, but nothing has been completed,” Lovullo said. “He had a good light workout and hit in the cage and everything was very positive. (Wednesday) will be a non-baseball activity day just to kind of regenerate a little bit. And we’ll start to initiate a few more things on Thursday. It’s not complete and we don’t have a full understanding of when he’s going to come back, but he’s on his feet and initiating baseball activities and feeling good about it.”
Luvullo wasn't sure if Pollock – hitting .299 with a .337 OBP – would need a rehab assignment.
“It will depend on how A.J. feels,” he said. “We’re going to make sure he kind of lets us know where he’s at mentally, physically and also fundamentally. We don’t want to put him into a situation where he’s not going to be ready to step into a big-league environment . ... I’ve seen players come back without a rehab assignment. It’s not impossible, but we’re not going to do anything at this point in time or make any predictions at this point in time."
Dairy king
J.J. Hoover defeated fellow relievers Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin in Tuesday's pregame cow “milk-off” at Chase Field. The Shamrock Farms competition kicked off this season's Grand Slam Milk Drive program.
“It was great, but I think the purpose behind the competition is more important – remembering those less fortunate that are struggling to feed themselves,” Hoover said. “It's something that I've taken seriously. It's something that I'm actively pursuing back on my farm in Cincinnati, so it was really cool.”
All three pitchers had fun with the competition. Bradley wore a cowboy hat, while Chafin wore cowboy boots. Each had one minute to milk Pokie, a 1,500pound cow that turns four in September.
“It's for a good cause, and it's another one of those things – how many guys can say they milked a cow on a baseball field?” Bradley said.
When asked if he learned anything, Chafin said, “Yeah, if I want a cow milked, call Hoov.”