SCOTTSDALE - Sitting in the scouts' section behind home plate, Diamondbacks officials have overheard the comments on center field prospect A.J. Pollock in the late innings of spring training games.
"His arm is better than I thought," one scout mused.
"He runs a little better than I realized."
"He's more physical than I thought."
"You watch him play a few games, and you walk away and say, 'Nice player,' " D-backs executive Jerry Dipoto said. "But you watch him over and over - he's subtle, and then when you fill out the boxes in the scouting report, every (tool) is better than average."
Pollock has been among the group of D-backs second-teamers who have shown some fight early in the Cactus League schedule. They have played well, played competitively and impressed manager Kirk Gibson.
People are also reading…
It has been an especially fun stretch for Pollock, who hasn't played games on an everyday basis for about a year. At this time last year, he fractured the growth plate in his right elbow, an injury that required surgery and cost him most of the season. He did return to hit .313 in the Arizona Fall League while playing every other day.
He seems to be making the most of the opportunity in camp. He is 6 for 13 with a double, and he's opening eyes of both scouts and the man on the top step of the dugout.
"Solid," Gibson said. "He puts the bat on the ball, a heady base runner and a heady player."
Pollock likely will open the year in Double-A Mobile, though GM Kevin Towers thinks Pollock is close to big-league ready.
"There's no doubt in my mind he's going to be a good big-league player," Towers said, "and it's probably not too far off."
Inside pitch
• There are indications the D-backs are exploring the market for left-handed relief help, and reliever Carlos Rosa and infielder Tony Abreu, both of whom are out of minor-league options, are said to be available via trade.
Should the D-backs move Abreu, it would leave Geoff Blum as the primary backup at shortstop. Willie Bloomquist and Ryan Roberts also could play short.
• Roberts singled in his first at-bat Wednesday and is 7 for 10 with five walks in the Cactus League. "He's probably had as good of at-bats as anybody we've had in camp so far," Towers said.
• Shortstop prospect Chris Owings, who has yet to play because of an oblique strain, said he felt well taking batting practice Wednesday and is expected to play today against the Padres.
