CLEVELAND — The surgically-repaired elbow feels good. His nagging hamstring is sound.
Healthy and pain-free, Victor Martinez is back where he belongs: A major-league ballfield.
The Tribe catcher was activated from the disabled list Friday after missing 66 games with an inflamed right elbow. Utility man Andy Gonzalez was designated for assignment to make room.
Martinez, who also dealt with a hamstring problem that lingered since Opening Day, was asked when was the last time he felt so good physically.
“Uh, I don’t really know,” the two-time All-Star said. “But it feels nice.”
The Indians will take it slow with Martinez, who was in the lineup batting fifth and playing first base on Friday at Progressive Field. He recently played in eight rehab games with Triple-A Buffalo and Double-A Akron.
According to Martinez, he’ll play approximately four times a week, twice at catcher and twice at either first base or DH. Martinez probably won’t catch until the White Sox series, starting Monday at Progressive Field.
He’ll work on his catching duties on the side over the weekend as “we get our eyes on him,” manager Eric Wedge said.
“He was far enough along catching-wise to take a look at him up here, to make sure we’re seeing what we need to see, which we are.”
Wedge isn’t concerned with the quantity of appearances Martinez gets behind the plate over the final month of the season.
“The most important thing that we want to do is to make sure when the season’s over that this injury is behind him,” Wedge said.
Martinez’s health undoubtedly contributed to his lack of power this season. After hitting 25 home runs in 2007, the 29-year-old Venezuelan had none in 198 at-bats this season before having arthroscopic surgery on June 13.
Asked Friday if he regretted trying to play through the pain, Martinez said, “No, man. I’m going to give what I got. I don’t go back and (think) I should have stopped or nothing like that. I just love to play this game and I’ll play however.”
Martinez doesn’t mind his limited catching duties, complimenting the job Kelly Shoppach’s done in his absence. Shoppach won’t alter his daily routine with Martinez returning.
“I’m going to come in, see if I’m playing or not,” Shoppach said flatly. “That’s what I do every day. No different than I did a month ago, a year ago, two years ago, 10 years ago, or 10 years from now.”
n THE LONGBALL — Martinez isn’t necessarily homerless on the season. He hit one during a rehab start in Akron.
“Aha, there it is! Finally!” he described the feeling.
n THE ORDER — Martinez made 41 of his 51 starts batting clean-up before going to the DL. But entering Friday, Jhonny Peralta was batting .330 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI in 57 games in Martinez’s place.
“Jhonny’s done such a good job in the four-hole, there’s no sense in moving him out of there right away,” Wedge said.
n PRONK UPDATE — Wedge indicated DH Travis Hafner (right shoulder) will stay with Buffalo through its last game on Monday, then be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Hafner could be sent to Akron if the Indians don’t feel he’s ready to return to big-league action.
n DON’T FORGET — Today’s game, with Cleveland RHP Anthony Reyes (2-1, 2.22) facing Seattle LHP Jarrod Washburn (5-14, 4.93), will not be televised. First pitch is scheduled for 3:55.
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