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.”