Murphy moves on to field running; Hellickson update

ATLANTA - Daniel Murphy moved from the treadmill to running on the field today, another positive update as the veteran recovers from offseason microfracture right knee surgery that has placed him on the disabled list to begin the season.

"I thought it went well," Murphy said of running on the field. "Well, the grass doesn't really move. But obviously it's more realistic. As far as being limited in my pace I would say no. Yeah, same pace."

Murphy said his rehab focus continues to be about building strength and not about how fast he runs. It's more about the technical side of his running.

"I wasn't necessarily focused on the pace, it was more of kind of getting my stride length correct," Murphy said. "I think anybody who's been hurt as much as anything it's retraining your brain that you can handle the movement even if there's no discomfort which there wasn't. Still got to retrain my brain, it's the first time I've hit the ground in almost six months."

He also has had positive results in his lateral work for a few weeks.

"I have been able to take ground balls aggressively I want to say the last month or so. Each time I seem like I get more comfortable. My movements on those are becoming more free and I think (first base coach) Tim (Bogar) is able to hit the ball a little farther away from me, kind of test me a little bit more."

So with running on grass as a solid step forward (pun unintended), will he raise the bar tomorrow?

"To be honest with you, getting through today," Murphy said. "I got running today. I'm going to go out and do my work out with the team, hit batting practice, take ground balls, a little bit more leg work after that. It really is day-to-day. I know it sounds cliché. We will come in tomorrow and my reaction to today's work will dictate what we do tomorrow. But nothing is set in stone."

As far as confidence in his swing during batting practice, as he build strength back in his lower half, his swing will start to come back into form.

"I think as I naturally get stronger in my legs I'll probably hopefully be able to use them more," Murphy acknowledged. "I feel like I'm getting into my legs more. You might have to ask (hitting coach) Kevin (Long). He'll feed it to you straight. Sometimes I'll try to trick myself. I feel like I'm getting my legs stronger and hopefully we'll continue to do that."

And during games with all his time on the bench, he has been able to strategize alongside manager Davey Martinez.

"I'm still as much as anything trying to pick up the ball from the pitcher," Murphy said. "I'm really enjoying watching these guys offensively. They are just grinding at-bats right now especially the weather wasn't exactly fun and pleasant in Cincinnati. The guys didn't give away a single pitch. It was really fun to watch. Pitching staff is unreal too.

"That's what I'm doing. Kind of just observing the game. I wouldn't say managing, because Davey did a great job. Just observing, what position would skip may want to put me in or something like that just to be aware what's going on."

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Martinez had updates on pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and right-hander Joaquin Benoit (right forearm strain) still in Florida working out. Hellickson getting stretched out by throwing tomorrow and Benoit is rehabbing.

"Hellickson is doing well. Benoit is still nursing his elbow," Martinez said. "He's still going through his strengthening stuff. He's coming along. I don't know when they're gonna be back, but I think Hellickson is closer right now than Benoit is, so we'll see what happens."

When ready to go, Hellickson could be the No. 5 pitcher in the rotation if A.J. Cole struggles out of the blocks. Cole is set to start tomorrow night's game here in Atlanta.