Justin Upton

At 36 years old, Justin Upton has this physical status:

Justin Irvin Upton (born August 25, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He appeared for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2007 to 2012, the Atlanta Braves in 2013 and 2014, San Diego Padres in 2015, and the Detroit Tigers in 2016 and 2017.

He has been a teammate of his brother B.J.

Both the Braves and the Padres will play in Upton.

Although primarily a right fielder throughout his career, Upton has since moved to left field for the Braves, Padres, and Tigers. In the 2005 MLB draft out of high school, Upton came first overall and made his MLB debut with them in 2007.

He has been chosen to four All-Star teams and has collected three Silver Slugger Awards.

Justin and Melvin are the only two brothers in Major League Baseball to be selected in the first round of any draft.

Personal life

Ashley Upton and his wife have two children. Their second daughter has Emanuel syndrome, and they have been instrumental in spreading the word about the condition. They live in Newport Beach, California.

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Early life and amateur career

Melvin and Yvonne (née Gordon) Upton were born in Upton. After playing both college football and basketball at Norfolk State, Yvonne served as a tutor, a mortgage broker, and a college basketball referee in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Melvin Upton Jr., a three-year-old boy, played baseball with Upton Jr., who is a three-year-old. With Mark Reynolds, David Wright, and Ryan Zimmerman, the Upton brothers competed on travel teams. In Amateur Athletic Union play, Upton played against Cameron Maybin.

Upton was an all-district shortstop for Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, and received the AFLAC National High School Player of the Year Award. He was voted the best high school baseball prospect by Baseball America. He had verbally committed to play college baseball at NC State.

Professional career

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Upton as the first overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft. He has signed with the Diamondbacks for a $6.1 million signing bonus.

Upton appeared for the Class-A South Bend Silver Hawks in his first professional season. He began with the Class-A Advanced Visalia Oaks in 2007, but was promoted to the Class AA Mobile BayBears after hitting.341 with five home runs for the Oaks in April.

Following an injury to everyday right fielder Carlos Quentin, Upton was called up to the big league team on August 2, 2007. So Upton shifted to right when he was called up.

In his third major league game, Upton scored his first major league hit and run in his career on August 4, 2007. His first career RBI came the next day, and he spent his first days in his new home run two days after. On the day, he was just about to become the first player to reach for the cycle for the first time, falling just a single shy of the record set.

He had 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, and a.221 batting average in his rookie season. Despite a slow start to his career (even with limited playing time), he broke out in the 2007 post-season, leading the Diamondbacks to a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, advancing the NLCS to the NLCS. He finished the 2007 season with a.357 batting average, a double, a triple, a stolen base, and an RBI to go along with an impressive.571 slugging percentage.

Upton's spring training featured over.300 runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases, earning him the starting right field job over Jeff Salazar. Upton has a "very high ceiling," according to manager Bob Melvin, and it would not surprise him" if he had a fruitful 2008 season.

Upton began the season and finished second in the Western league second division second to Clayton Kershaw as of July 31, 2008. On April 3, Upton's first big hit of the 2008 major league season came as a result of his work in Detroit. Johnny Cueto's debut in a home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds. It was Arizona's first hit of the competition. In their home opener against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, he went 3 for 5 against them for their second home run of the season. In a 7–2 Arizona win, Upton defeated Upton for the third straight ballgame on April 5 while collecting three hits. His third home run made him the third player under the age of 21 to reach home runs in three straight games. For his fourth home run of 2008, Upton defeated Jeff Francis of Colorado on April 11. The home run was a 8–2 win, the seventh straight for Arizona. He and Arizona's streaks continued on the 12th day, with Upton going 3 for 3 and dead center field at Chase Field, and the Diamondbacks winning 10–3, their eighth straight victory. On the day, Upton had a career-high four RBIs.

In the month of May, Upton suffered from a prolonged drought that culminated in him going 0-for-24 with 17 strikeouts at one point. With a home run against the Giants on May 30, Upton came out of his slump.

Upton fired Josh Banks of San Diego Padres off a 484-foot (148 m) shot off the pitcher on July 6, 2008. It was the second-longest home run in Chase Field history at that time. Richie Sexson's only home run was a 503 ft (153 m) shot off the bat.

Despite getting off to a hot start on the year, cold streaks, and a left oblique injury (resulting in a five-week absence on the DL), Upton's chances of putting together a good year were shattered. However, he ended the year with 15 home runs, 42 RBIs, 6 triples, 19 doubles, a stolen base, and a.463 slugging percentage to go along with a.250 batting average. With 11. he tied for the top among all major league outfielders in errors on defense.

With two home runs and eight RBIs, Upton finished fifth in the batting average in April 2009. Upton had seven home runs, 21 RBIs, 8 doubles, 4 triples, a league-leading.7209 slugging percentage, as well as a.373 on-base percentage and a.444 on-base percentage in May. Upton was named National Player of the Month of May on June 2, 2009. Melvin Upton, Jr., was named AL Player of the Month of June, bringing Justin and B.J. In the same year, the first pair of brothers to win Player of the Month awards. Upton was named as a reserve outfielder for the National League on July 5, 2009, and he was selected to the 2009 All-Star team as a reserve outfielder.

Upton strained his right oblique against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 5, 2009, resulting in a stint on the disabled list. Trent Oeltjen, a rookie outfielder, had taken over his roster spot.

With 26 home runs (including his first career grand slam against the Dodgers), Upton led the Diamondbacks in batting average (.300) and hits (158) to go along with 26 home runs (including his first grand slam against the Dodgers) and 86 RBI. He ranks third in the NL in slugging percentage (.532, third among outfielders), and he has accumulated 20 stolen bases to go along with 7 triples and 30 doubles. With 12, he led all major league outfielders in errors in 2009, with 12, and had the lowest fielding percentage among them (.961). Despite this, Justin Upton released a 7.4 UZR, a figure that some believe to be more telling than errors and fielding percentages.

On March 3, 2010, Upton decided to a six-year, $50 million signing bonus as well as a limited no-trade exception.

Upton's season was cut short by a strained right oblique, but the team nevertheless finished the season with a respectable batting average, 17 home runs, and 69 runs run along with 18 stolen bases.

For the second time in his career, Upton and his colleague, Miguel Montero, were selected to play in his hometown stadium.

Upton hit.289 with 31 home runs in 2011, but with 13 outfielders, he led all major league outfielders in errors. He also led the NL in hitting the pitch with 19 (a Diamondbacks record), was second in doubles (39) and third in runs scored (105) and extra base hits (75). In 2011, he was named as the best fielding right fielder in MLB by a Fielding Bible Award.

Through 2011, Upton was the 2nd all-time Diamondback hitters in HBP (3rd), 3rd in slugging percentage (.487) and OPS (.845), 4th in OBP (.357) and strikeouts (573), and 5th in triples (24). He was given one of three National League OF Silver Slugger Awards.

In the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award voting, he came in fourth, behind champion Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, and Prince Fielder.

Justin Upton scored his 100th home run against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 3, 2012. B.J., his brother, was a boy of B.J. In another baseball game, he would reach his 100th home run in his career. Upton finished second in the National League in runs scored in 2012 (107; behind Ryan Braun).

Upton hasn't been a trade to the Seattle Mariners since the 2012 season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks traded Upton and Chris Johnson to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Martn Prado, Randall Delgado, pitching prospect Zeke Spruill, and minor league first baseman Brandon Drury. Melvin, who had signed with Atlanta earlier in the offseason, was able to play alongside him. Melvin and Justin were home for the first time in the same game on April 7, 2013, when Melvin struck a game-tying home run off Carlos Marmol in the 9th inning) and Justin Upton led the Braves to a 6-5 victory over the Cubs. On April 23, 2013, the Upton brothers scored for the first time since 1938, beating the Colorado Rockies for the first time since 1938.

Justin and Melvin met in the same game for the fifth time on August 8, 2014, setting a new Major League record for brothers. With two brothers, Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, and Jason and Jeremy Giambi, the Uptons previously shared the record of four: four brothers.

The Braves gave Upton and Aaron Northcraft to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Max Fried, Jace Peterson, Dustin Peterson, and Mallex Smith on December 19, 2014.

Upton was named an All Star for the third time in his career and his first pick since 2011. Upton, along with Starling Marte and Christian Yelich, was named a Gold Glove finalist in left field on October 23, 2015. Upton hit.251 with 26 home runs and 81 RBI in his first season with the Padres. On November 2, 2015, he applied for free service.

The Detroit Tigers agreed to a six-year, $132.75 million contract on January 20, 2016. After the 2017 season, Upton had the option to pursue free agency again. On July 18, 2016, Upton's rookie Ricky Nolasco scored his 200th home run, leading to the only run in a 1–0 victory for the Minnesota Twins.

For the week of September 19-26, Upton was named co-American League Player of the Week (sharing the award with Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians). Upton was 10-for-25 (.400) with three doubles, three home runs, six RBIs, and an AL-leading 22 total bases. It was his first Player of the Week award in the American League and fourth overall, having first received the NL award with the Atlanta Braves on April 13, 2014. Upton ranked 26th in the 2016 season with 31 home runs and 87 RBIs. In the first six weeks of the season, eighteen of Upton's home runs and 41 of his RBIs were recorded.

Upton was a late addition to the 2017 American League All-Star roster. His replacement was announced after it was announced that starting pitcher Michael Fulmer, the only Tiger player to be selected to the team, would not be able to participate in the game due to his absence due to his start's scheduling. With runners in scoring position, Upton was batting.271 with 21 doubles, 15 home runs, 54 RBIs, a.356 on-base percentage, and a.384 batting average at the time of his pick (ranked third in the AL). This was Upton's fourth straight All-Star selection and first in the American League. Upton scored his third grand slam of the season in a game against the Baltimore Orioles on August 4.

On August 31, 2017, the Tigers traded Upton and cash to the Los Angeles Angels for Grayson Long and a player who will be confirmed later or cash. The Tigers completed the transfer on September 15, acquiring Elvin Rodriguez, the Angels' pitching prospect, as the PTBNL. Upton set career highs with 44 doubles, 35 home runs, 109 RBI, and a.901 OPS in 2017, with a.273 batting average and.361 on-base percentage. For the third time in his career, he has scored 100 runs.

Upton was named in left field of the 2017 Gold Glove Award, alongside Yankee Brett Gardner and Alex Gordon of the Royals. Upton decided to re-sign with the Angels on November 2 to a 5-year, $106 million contract. In left field, Upton was named the recipient of the AL Silver Slugger Award. This was Upton's third appearance in the Silver Slugger Award.

Upton batted.257/.463 in 2018, slugging 30 home runs and driving in 85 runs. Upton sustained a turf toe injury during a preseason match against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 24, 2019. Upton's season debut was postponed until June 21. Upton was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis on September 13, putting an end to his 2019 season early. With 12 home runs and 40 RBIs, Upton ended the season on a lonesome of 256 plate appearances in just 63 games.

In a game against the Seattle Mariners on July 29, 2020, Upton scored his 300th home run. With nine home runs and 22 RBIs in 42 games, he finished his pandemic-shortened season. Upton lost his 1,000th career RBI against the San Diego Padres on August 27, 2021. Upton was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right lumbar strain on September 5, 2009. It was his second time on the injured list this season, both due to back pains.

On April 2, 2022, the Angels selected Upton for assignment. Upton had a.232 batting average, 75 home runs, and 203 RBIs in five years with Los Angeles. He obtained waivers and was released on April 8.

Upton and the Seattle Mariners have a major league contract on May 21, 2022. On June 17, he was recalled and made his Marine debut. The Mariners had a transfer to Triple-A on July 22, 2022, but the Mariners turned down the offer and created a free agency.

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Awards

• 2007: USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award
• 2009: Player of the Month – National League, May
• 2011: NL Silver Slugger Award – outfield
• 2013: Player of the Month - National League, April
• 2014: NL Silver Slugger Award – outfield
• 2017: AL Silver Slugger Award – outfield- Left field