D-Backs notebook: Upton takes swings without pain

Justin Upton felt back at home Thursday, back at home. Roof open, sunglasses down, Upton hit several pitches into the Chase Field seats in early batting practice, the first time he has hit outside since suffering a strained left oblique muscle in Washington on July 9.

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“After the first few swings, it looked like his normal swing. He was driving some balls out of the park,” a pleased manager Bob Melvin said.

“I wasn’t manipulating my swing in any way. I had no pain from it,” said Upton, reassured after an MRI Monday showed no damage.

“It was definitely a relief. It took a lot off my mind.”

The D-Backs hope to send Upton on a rehab assignment in the next couple of days, Melvin said, at the latest by the time the D-Backs leave on their trip to Colorado and Houston on Monday. An exact destination is not known, but Melvin said it is likely Upton will spend at least some time at Triple-A Tucson, where he has not played. He jumped from Double-A Mobile to the majors last season.

“He may get a number of at-bats. We’d like to have him feeling good about his at-bats and his swing” when he is activated, Melvin said.

“When I come back, I don’t want to be hurting the team,” Upton said.

TOOLS OF DELIVERANCE

The most efficient run-producing catcher in the NL was in Chase Field on Thursday. Atlanta’s All-Star Brian McCann was there, too.

While McCann’s run-scoring single gave him the lead among NL catchers with 64 RBIs, Chris Snyder’s ratio of one RBI every 5.27 at-bats remains tops among NL catchers with at least 75 games behind the plate.

“I’m just trying to stay consistent,” said Snyder, who has 44 RBIs and is ranked in the top five in on-base plus slugging percentage (.785) and on-base percentage (.353) thanks to his 39 walks.

“I just try to get on base. That’s always been my approach at the plate – see pitches and do what I can. Get a guy over, get a guy in.”

Snyder, whose average is .244, has 12 RBIs in 40 at-bats since returning from his bruised testicle July 20.

SLATEN NEEDS 1 MORE

Doug Slaten is to make one more rehab appearance at Triple-A Tucson on Saturday after giving up one run on three hits, including a homer, in 2/3 of an inning in relief Wednesday.

He has given up two runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings with the Sidewinders.

“I know why I didn’t get good results — the first time out it was control. The second time, I made a few bad pitches,” Slaten said.

The D-Backs have been without a left-hander reliever since his injury July 18.

SHORT HOPS

The D-Backs had mild interest in veteran left-hander Scott Eyre, who was traded to Philadelphia on Thursday after being designated for assignment by the Cubs on Tuesday.

Atlanta’s Chipper Jones (left hamstring) took batting practice and is eligible to return from the disabled list today, but manager Bobby Cox said Jones “might have to pinch-hit for a few games.”