Justin Upton

Justin Irvin Upton (born August 25, 1987, in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American Major League Baseball right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was selected first overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.

2007

On August 2, 2007, Upton was called up to the big league team at the age of only 19, following an injury to everyday right fielder Carlos Quentin. He made his major league debut exactly three years after his brother B.J. made his for the Devil Rays. When he was called up, the Diamondbacks had star rookie Chris Young at center field, so Upton shifted to right. Upton recorded his first career major league hit and run scored on August 4, 2007, in his third major league game. His first career RBI came the next day, and his first career home run two days after that. He almost became the youngest player ever to hit for the cycle on that day, falling just a single shy of the milestone.


2008

In 2008 spring training, Upton hit over .300 with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases, earning the starting right field job over Jeff Salazar. Manager Bob Melvin said that Upton has a "very high ceiling," and that it "wouldn't surprise him" if he had a great 2008 season. Upton began the season and held the current title of being the youngest active major leaguer second to Clayton Kershaw as of July 31, 2008. Upton collected his first big hit of the 2008 major league season on April 3. In the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds, he broke up a no-hitter in the major league debut of Johnny Cueto with a home run. It was Arizona's only hit of the contest. The next night (April 4), he went 3 for 5 against the Colorado Rockies in their home opener with his second home run of the season. For the third consecutive ballgame on April 5, Upton homered while collecting three hits in a 7-2 Arizona victory.

On April 11, Upton homered off Jeff Francis of Colorado for his fourth home run of 2008 campaign. The home run was in an 8-2 victory that was the seventh straight for Arizona. The very next day (April 12), he and Arizona continued their streaks, with Upton going 3 for 3, hitting a three-run home run to dead center field at Chase Field and the Diamondbacks winning 10-3, marking their eighth straight win. Upton had a career-high four RBIs on the day.

Upton went through a prolonged slump in the month of May that saw him go 0 for 24 with 17 Ks at one point. Upton came out of his slump on May 30 with a home run against the Giants. On July 6, 2008, Upton hit a 484-foot shot off San Diego Padres' pitcher Josh Banks. It was at that point the second-longest home run in the history of Chase Field. The only longer home run was a 503 ft shot off the bat of Richie Sexson.


2009

As of June 4, 2009, Upton leads the Diamondbacks in batting average (.322) and RBI (33) to go along with 10 home runs (including his first career grand slam on 6/2/09 against the Dodgers). He's also third in the NL in slugging (.600, second among outfielders) and may be named to his first all star game. On June 2nd, 2009, Upton was named NL Player of the Month of May by the MLB after compiling a .371 batting average with 7 home runs and 21 RBI.