SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While
\"We feel like, given the progress he's made, and the evaluation that was done by a lot of really good people, that if we do start the progression, sooner than later, he might be on the back end of our rotation,\" Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. \"So that's what we're going to hold out hope for. But anything's possible. We still got to wait until it's all said and done.\"\n\nLovullo didn't want to set a specific date for when Kelly would need to get back on a mound, but it will need to be fairly soon in order for the 37-year-old starter to get built up enough for his first turn through the rotation.
\"We got to get him completely asymptomatic,\" Lovullo said. \"He feels good, which is a really good sign. But once we get him totally asymptomatic, we'll start that work. Whatever that work progression is, we don't have that yet.\"
**Another pitching injury**\n\nCristian Mena, who missed half of last season with a right teres major injury, reaggravated the injury while throwing Wednesday. The right-hander was shut down and will open the year on the injured list.\n\nMena, 23, appeared in three games over two big league stints with the Diamondbacks last year.\n\nAfter tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief on May 9, Mena was optioned back to Triple-A Reno before coming back up on June 1 and throwing two scoreless frames in his first outing. Then, in a rain-marred game in Cincinnati on June 6, he suffered the right teres major injury and was out for the remainder of the season.\n\nWhile not expected to make the Opening Day roster, the Diamondbacks were counting on him being one of their first depth options in Reno.\n\n\"We are going to pull him totally back out of all drills, all throwing programs, and let him rest for right now,\" Lovullo said. \"What that \\[timeline\\] is, I'm not sure.\"
**Taking it slow with Pfaadt**\n\nRight-hander