D-Backs notebook: 5 D-Backs to honor Robinson

SAN FRANCISCO - While at UCLA, Eric Byrnes wrote a thesis on Jackie Robinson, so it is easy to understand why Byrnes will be one of five Diamondbacks who will wear No. 42 today.

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“Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier had an impact not just in baseball and the sports world, but it impacted society,” Byrnes said.

More than 330 major leaguers are to wear No. 42 today, when baseball celebrates the anniversary of Robinson’s first major league game, April 15, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Orlando Hudson, Justin Upton, Chris Young and first base coach Lee Tinsley also are among the players who will wear No. 42. So are former D-Backs Tony Clark and Scott Hairston in San Diego and Miguel Batista in Seattle.

“You look back on it, and to be honest with you, he’s the reason players like me and ‘O’ (Hudson) and Chris are here,” Upton said.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to honor the past.”

Robinson was a three-sport star at UCLA before signing with the Dodgers’ organization.

“Going to UCLA, I learned a lot about Jackie Robinson and what he meant to this country, not just this game,” said Byrnes, who said he received an A-minus on his paper.

LET IT GROW

As Byrnes’ hitting streak grows, so does his mustache.

Byrnes has not shaved his upper lip during his 10-game hitting streak that continued with a fifth-inning single Monday, although it was almost time to break out the shaver Sunday.

Byrnes’ only hit Sunday was an infield single in the fifth inning that originally was ruled an error on Colorado shortstop Clint Barmes.

“I was able to squeak out a hit that got changed — the mustache stays until that is over,” Byrnes said.

UPTON IN SELECT COMPANY

With five home runs in his first 11 games, Upton became one of three players in major league history under the age of 21 to do that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hall of Famer Al Kaline hit five in his first five games with Detroit in 1955, and Miguel Cabrera hit five in his first six games with Florida in 2004.

Upton hit his fifth homer Saturday.

Earlier, home run guru David Vincent found that Upton was the fourth player in the modern era to hit homers in three straight games at the age of 20, joining Mel Ott (twice), Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda.

SHORT HOPS

Edgar Gonzalez had oral surgery to treat an infected tooth Monday, manager Bob Melvin said. Gonzalez will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and should be available for his next start, although Melvin did not say exactly when that would be. Because of Thursday’s off day, the D-Backs could bring Randy Johnson and Micah Owings back on regular rest against San Diego on Saturday and Sunday, which would push Gonzalez into next week.

Doug Davis watched Sunday’s game from the dugout, back in uniform three days after his cancerous thyroid gland was removed. He did not make the San Francisco trip.

Miguel Montero is “right on schedule” in his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Tucson, said Melvin, who wants to see Montero get between 30 and 40 minor league at-bats before joining the team. That could happen before May 1.