"Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton hasn't swung a bat in a game since mid-September, and the plan is for him to gets some batting practice in the instructional league before he shuts it down for good this off-season.

That way, Upton will have a better feel, physically and mentally, about the strength and recovery of a left-shoulder injury he aggravated Aug. 30.

Upton has been used recently as a pinch-runner, but interim manager Kirk Gibson said the club didn't want to let him hit until everyone is convinced the injury is healed.

"I'm pretty confident with where I'm at right now," Upton said. "Hopefully I'll be able to get some swings in before shutting it down, because that's the best-case scenario. If it doesn't go that way, obviously we'll re-evaluate the situation and go from there.

"But I don't want to not pick up a bat and go home not knowing if I'm 100 percent."

Gibson agreed and also has issued a challenge to Upton.

"We've talked about it, and he understands he can't come back and be successful and play just 130 games," Gibson said. "He's too big of an asset, too important to this team. He's got to do some things different with the way he keeps himself ready to play.""