Byrnes likely to play winter ball

PHOENIX -- D-backs outfielder Eric Byrnes had an MRI taken Tuesday that he said showed his torn left hamstring is healing nicely.

"It looked really good," he said. "It looked like it was healing well."

So good that Byrnes did some light running on the D-backs' specialized treadmill that uses an air flow system to reduce the amount of body weight that is put on the legs.

It will still probably be two or three weeks before Byrnes is able to run, which effectively rules him out for a possible return this year. While there was never a serious chance he would be able to recover in time, Byrnes always held out hope.

"Realistically, I just can't," he said. "It's not a very realistic option."

What is more likely is that Byrnes will head to the Instructional League this fall to get some at-bats and reassure himself that the hamstring is feeling good.

"I'm confident that I'll be there at some point before it's over," he said. "The reality of the situation is I had over 600 at-bats last year and I had 200 this year and ... not one of those at-bats was healthy."

Byrnes is in the first year of a three-year, $30 million contract extension he signed last August. He has toyed with the idea of maybe going to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball, but does not want to risk pushing things too hard and re-injuring the hamstring.

"The bottom line is I'm going to be here for the next couple of years and the next two years are very important for me and the team as well," he said. "The only thing I'm really concerned about is being 100 percent for Spring Training next year."