Baltimoron
08-03-2007, 07:54 AM
Justin Upton is now a Snake (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/08/02/upton.callup.ap/)
Meh, you know who he is. For the under-rock-livers, Justin Upton (August 25, 1987) was selected first overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He is also the brother of Tampa Bay Devil Rays second baseman/center fielder/"most elsewhere if they need it" B.J. Upton, who was taken #2 in the 2002 draft.
First Inning (http://firstinning.com/content/200708103):
Yesterday, the Diamondbacks finally called up the $6 million man, Justin Upton, to fill in for injured rightfielder Carlos Quentin. It is always exciting when a premier prospect of Upton's caliber finally gets to the majors. Since beginning his professional career last season, the 20-year-old centerfielder and #1 Overall 2005 draftee has continued to achieve – and grow – at each stop in the minors.
...
The younger Upton rates as the coveted five-tool talent. FirstInning.com regulars will notice we do not get hung up solely on traditional scouting methods, combining this with statistical evidence that the tools exist. In Upton's case, all this comes together. He can hit for average (.341 with Visalia and .309 with Mobile), hit for power (.540 and .556, respectively), can run the bases and steal (19 stolen bases across both levels), possesses centerfield-quality defense, and the arm capable of remaining at his original position. Though some skills are clearly more on the raw side at this point (he has been caught stealing 11 times this season), given his advanced progression at such a young age, this is to be expected.
Justin Upton's Stats (http://firstinning.com/content/200708103)
Year Age PA HR BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 19 A 499 12 49 96 .263 .339 .413 752
2007 20 A+ 151 5 19 28 .341 .433 .540 973
2007 20 AA 309 13 37 51 .309 .399 .556 955
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Another talented kid who was born 4 months earlier in 1987 and was drafted 11 places behind Justin is Jay Bruce (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/SPORTS07/707150568/1002/SPORTS). He is in the Cincinnati organization. Not sure if everyone has heard of him, but you probably will soon, especially as he will play his home games at GABP.
Kevin Goldstein at BP, who ranked Bruce as the ninth (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5892) best prospect in baseball to start the year, has commented:
"Just 20 years old, he's already moved up to Double-A, where he’s hitting .328/.406/.672 in his first 15 Southern League games. The best hitting prospect in the minors? You could make that argument and win."
link (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6448)
Jay's had quite a bit more fun since that assessment up in AAA:
Jay Bruce's Stats (http://firstinning.com/players/Jay-Bruce-a)
Year Age PA HR BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 19 A 497 16 40 106 .291 .349 .516 865
2007 20 A+ 300 11 24 67 .325 .379 .586 965
2007 20 AA 74 4 8 20 .333 .405 .652 1057
2007 20 AAA 84 5 8 16 .307 .381 .600 981
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BTW, here are the top 12 picks of the 2005 draft. Silliness
1. Justin Upton SS Great Bridge HS (VA)
2. Alex Gordon 3B U Nebraska
3. Jeff Clement C U Southern California
4. Ryan Zimmerman 3B U Virginia
5. Ryan Braun 3B U Miami
6. Ricardo Romero LHP Cal St. Fullerton
7. Troy Tulowitzki SS Cal St. Long Beach
8. Wade Townsend RHP Rice U
9. Michael Pelfrey RHP Wichita State U
10. Cameron Maybin CF T C Roberson HS (NC)
11. Andrew McCutchen CF Fort Meade HS (FL)
12. Jay Bruce CF Westbrook HS (TX)
----------------------
What prospects do you think could have a late season impact or big impact next season? Who is on the cusp?
Adam Jones (http://firstinning.com/players/Adam-Jones-a/) says *Hi*!
Meh, you know who he is. For the under-rock-livers, Justin Upton (August 25, 1987) was selected first overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He is also the brother of Tampa Bay Devil Rays second baseman/center fielder/"most elsewhere if they need it" B.J. Upton, who was taken #2 in the 2002 draft.
First Inning (http://firstinning.com/content/200708103):
Yesterday, the Diamondbacks finally called up the $6 million man, Justin Upton, to fill in for injured rightfielder Carlos Quentin. It is always exciting when a premier prospect of Upton's caliber finally gets to the majors. Since beginning his professional career last season, the 20-year-old centerfielder and #1 Overall 2005 draftee has continued to achieve – and grow – at each stop in the minors.
...
The younger Upton rates as the coveted five-tool talent. FirstInning.com regulars will notice we do not get hung up solely on traditional scouting methods, combining this with statistical evidence that the tools exist. In Upton's case, all this comes together. He can hit for average (.341 with Visalia and .309 with Mobile), hit for power (.540 and .556, respectively), can run the bases and steal (19 stolen bases across both levels), possesses centerfield-quality defense, and the arm capable of remaining at his original position. Though some skills are clearly more on the raw side at this point (he has been caught stealing 11 times this season), given his advanced progression at such a young age, this is to be expected.
Justin Upton's Stats (http://firstinning.com/content/200708103)
Year Age PA HR BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 19 A 499 12 49 96 .263 .339 .413 752
2007 20 A+ 151 5 19 28 .341 .433 .540 973
2007 20 AA 309 13 37 51 .309 .399 .556 955
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another talented kid who was born 4 months earlier in 1987 and was drafted 11 places behind Justin is Jay Bruce (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070715/SPORTS07/707150568/1002/SPORTS). He is in the Cincinnati organization. Not sure if everyone has heard of him, but you probably will soon, especially as he will play his home games at GABP.
Kevin Goldstein at BP, who ranked Bruce as the ninth (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5892) best prospect in baseball to start the year, has commented:
"Just 20 years old, he's already moved up to Double-A, where he’s hitting .328/.406/.672 in his first 15 Southern League games. The best hitting prospect in the minors? You could make that argument and win."
link (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6448)
Jay's had quite a bit more fun since that assessment up in AAA:
Jay Bruce's Stats (http://firstinning.com/players/Jay-Bruce-a)
Year Age PA HR BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2006 19 A 497 16 40 106 .291 .349 .516 865
2007 20 A+ 300 11 24 67 .325 .379 .586 965
2007 20 AA 74 4 8 20 .333 .405 .652 1057
2007 20 AAA 84 5 8 16 .307 .381 .600 981
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BTW, here are the top 12 picks of the 2005 draft. Silliness
1. Justin Upton SS Great Bridge HS (VA)
2. Alex Gordon 3B U Nebraska
3. Jeff Clement C U Southern California
4. Ryan Zimmerman 3B U Virginia
5. Ryan Braun 3B U Miami
6. Ricardo Romero LHP Cal St. Fullerton
7. Troy Tulowitzki SS Cal St. Long Beach
8. Wade Townsend RHP Rice U
9. Michael Pelfrey RHP Wichita State U
10. Cameron Maybin CF T C Roberson HS (NC)
11. Andrew McCutchen CF Fort Meade HS (FL)
12. Jay Bruce CF Westbrook HS (TX)
----------------------
What prospects do you think could have a late season impact or big impact next season? Who is on the cusp?
Adam Jones (http://firstinning.com/players/Adam-Jones-a/) says *Hi*!