B. J. Upton
Encyclopedia
Melvin Emmanuel "B. J." Upton (born August 21, 1984, in Norfolk, Virginia
) is a Major League Baseball
center fielder
for the Tampa Bay Rays
. Upton is a graduate of Greenbrier Christian Academy
.
His nickname, B. J., is short for "Bossman Junior" because his father was once known as Bossman. His brother Justin Upton
plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks
. B.J. and Justin are the only two brothers in MLB history to be selected in the number one and two slot of the draft (in separate years). The Upton brothers are also the first brothers to make it into the 20/20 Club (both have hit 20 home runs and have 20 stolen bases in a season).
, batting .641 (50-for-78) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, and 32 RBIs during his senior year at Greenbrier.
by Tampa Bay out of Greenbrier Christian Academy
in Chesapeake, Virginia
. Widely considered a very polished prospect able to hit for both power and average, he was kept in the minor leagues until 2007. He played in the same little league as several other current players including Mark Reynolds
, David Wright, and Ryan Zimmerman
.
In 2003, Upton committed 56 errors, leading the minor leagues. He was ranked as the # 21 prospect in baseball that year by Baseball America, and as the # 2 prospect a year later in 2004. In both 2004 and 2005, Upton was the starting shortstop in the All-Star Futures Game
.
, he went 1–3 with a walk, with his hit being a seventh-inning single off . His younger brother, Justin
, was taken with the top overall choice of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
, making them the highest-drafted siblings of all time. In 2004 he started 16 games at shortstop, 11 at third base, and 1 in left field.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml In 2006, he had 48 starts, all at third base.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In 2007, Upton emerged from spring training
as the Rays' starting second baseman
. On June 8, Upton was forced to leave a game against the Florida Marlins
early due to a strained left quadricep. The injury forced him out of action until July 13. Before the injury, he was batting .320/.396/.545 with 9 home runs. Starting 48 games at second base in 2007, he committed 12 errors, fifth in the league for the year.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml Although he played mostly second base until the injury, Upton has been the team's starting center fielder since returning.
In 2007, he had 24 home runs, and was 22 out of 30 in stolen base attempts. He was one of only 6 batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with Alex Rodriguez
, Gary Sheffield
, Ian Kinsler
, Grady Sizemore
, and Curtis Granderson
.
In 2008, he was part of the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays, hitting .273 with just nine home runs and 44 stolen bases (second in the AL; while he led the AL in times caught stealing, with 16). However, he would become one of the team's post-season heroes, as he hit 7 home runs in the three post-season series' Tampa Bay played in.
During the 2008 ALDS against the Chicago White Sox
, Upton hit three home runs and drove in four runs. Against the Boston Red Sox
in the 2008 ALCS he hit four home runs and drove in 11. In game 5 of the World Series, Upton stole second base and scored a crucial game tying run moments before the game was suspended due to torrential rain. It resumed two nights later and the Rays lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 1.
He became the first player of the Tampa Bay Rays to hit for the cycle, doing so on October 2, 2009.http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/04/12/in-which-sam-fuld-misses-the-cycle-but-captures-our-hearts/ In 2009, he batted .241, his 42 stolen bases were third in the league (as he was caught a third-most 14 times), and his 152 strikeouts were fifth in the AL.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In 2010, he batted .237, his 164 strikeouts were 2nd in the American League, and his 42 steals were 5th.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In April 2011, The Boston Globe
reported that two evaluators in major league baseball opined that the Rays may explore a trade for Upton.
On September 11, 2011, Upton hit his first grand slam
in a game against the Boston Red Sox
.
for lack of hustle. On August 6, Upton was held out of the lineup for failing to run out a ground ball the night before. On August 15, Upton was benched in the sixth inning for not running out a double play ball. He was replaced by Justin Ruggiano
. A few days later, Upton hit a ball to left field that bounced off the wall. From the crack of the bat, Upton reacted to it as a home run, dropping the bat and casually jogging down the first base line. He then tried to stretch it into a double and was thrown out by the left fielder. He was not benched for this incident, however. Joe Maddon was interviewed and called it "just a mental mistake".
During the Rays' June 27, 2010 home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
, Upton loafed after a ball hit by Rusty Ryal
into left-center field, allowing a double to become a triple. At the end of that half inning, Evan Longoria
approached Upton in the dugout, obviously to mention his displeasure with Upton's effort. Upton immediately became irate at the criticism and argued face-to-face with Longoria, repeatedly pointing a finger in his face, until Longoria walked away while Rays player Willy Aybar
grabbed Upton by the waist and took him away from the scene.
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. Upton is a graduate of Greenbrier Christian Academy
Greenbrier Christian Academy
Greenbrier Christian Academy is a private Christian school located in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, Virginia.GCA was founded in 1983 and is currently headed by H. Ron White. It has been voted "Best of Chesapeake" 7 consecutive years from 2002 to 2008...
.
His nickname, B. J., is short for "Bossman Junior" because his father was once known as Bossman. His brother Justin Upton
Justin Upton
Justin Irvin Upton is a National Major League Baseball right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. B.J. and Justin are the only two brothers in MLB history to be selected in the number one and two slot of the draft (in separate years). The Upton brothers are also the first brothers to make it into the 20/20 Club (both have hit 20 home runs and have 20 stolen bases in a season).
High school
As a member of the 2001 Team USA Junior National team, Upton batted .462 (12-for-26) in nine games. The team went 9–2 and won the Silver Medal in Cuba that year. In 2002, Upton was named a first-team All-American by Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, batting .641 (50-for-78) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, and 32 RBIs during his senior year at Greenbrier.
Minor leagues
Upton was drafted second overall in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
by Tampa Bay out of Greenbrier Christian Academy
Greenbrier Christian Academy
Greenbrier Christian Academy is a private Christian school located in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake, Virginia.GCA was founded in 1983 and is currently headed by H. Ron White. It has been voted "Best of Chesapeake" 7 consecutive years from 2002 to 2008...
in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
. Widely considered a very polished prospect able to hit for both power and average, he was kept in the minor leagues until 2007. He played in the same little league as several other current players including Mark Reynolds
Mark Reynolds (baseball)
Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known both for his power-hitting abilities and for his record-breaking strike out totals...
, David Wright, and Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Wallace Zimmerman is a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Washington Nationals. A 6-foot 3-inch player from the University of Virginia and Kellam High School, Zimmerman has been a member of the Nationals since his debut on September 1, 2005...
.
In 2003, Upton committed 56 errors, leading the minor leagues. He was ranked as the # 21 prospect in baseball that year by Baseball America, and as the # 2 prospect a year later in 2004. In both 2004 and 2005, Upton was the starting shortstop in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
.
Tampa Bay Rays (2004–present)
He made his major league debut on August 2, 2004, becoming the youngest Ray ever and the youngest player in the major leagues in 2004. He is the longest-tenured player on the Rays' roster. In that game against the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, he went 1–3 with a walk, with his hit being a seventh-inning single off . His younger brother, Justin
Justin Upton
Justin Irvin Upton is a National Major League Baseball right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
, was taken with the top overall choice of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
, making them the highest-drafted siblings of all time. In 2004 he started 16 games at shortstop, 11 at third base, and 1 in left field.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml In 2006, he had 48 starts, all at third base.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In 2007, Upton emerged from spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
as the Rays' starting second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. On June 8, Upton was forced to leave a game against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
early due to a strained left quadricep. The injury forced him out of action until July 13. Before the injury, he was batting .320/.396/.545 with 9 home runs. Starting 48 games at second base in 2007, he committed 12 errors, fifth in the league for the year.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml Although he played mostly second base until the injury, Upton has been the team's starting center fielder since returning.
In 2007, he had 24 home runs, and was 22 out of 30 in stolen base attempts. He was one of only 6 batters in the AL to have at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, along with Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
, Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
, Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
, Grady Sizemore
Grady Sizemore
Gradius "Grady" Sizemore III is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, and Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
.
In 2008, he was part of the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays, hitting .273 with just nine home runs and 44 stolen bases (second in the AL; while he led the AL in times caught stealing, with 16). However, he would become one of the team's post-season heroes, as he hit 7 home runs in the three post-season series' Tampa Bay played in.
During the 2008 ALDS against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Upton hit three home runs and drove in four runs. Against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in the 2008 ALCS he hit four home runs and drove in 11. In game 5 of the World Series, Upton stole second base and scored a crucial game tying run moments before the game was suspended due to torrential rain. It resumed two nights later and the Rays lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to 1.
He became the first player of the Tampa Bay Rays to hit for the cycle, doing so on October 2, 2009.http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/04/12/in-which-sam-fuld-misses-the-cycle-but-captures-our-hearts/ In 2009, he batted .241, his 42 stolen bases were third in the league (as he was caught a third-most 14 times), and his 152 strikeouts were fifth in the AL.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In 2010, he batted .237, his 164 strikeouts were 2nd in the American League, and his 42 steals were 5th.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml
In April 2011, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
reported that two evaluators in major league baseball opined that the Rays may explore a trade for Upton.
On September 11, 2011, Upton hit his first grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Criticism
During the 2008 season, Upton was twice disciplined by Rays manager Joe MaddonJoe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
for lack of hustle. On August 6, Upton was held out of the lineup for failing to run out a ground ball the night before. On August 15, Upton was benched in the sixth inning for not running out a double play ball. He was replaced by Justin Ruggiano
Justin Ruggiano
Justin Marshall Ruggiano is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.-Baseball career:Ruggiano played college baseball at Texas A&M....
. A few days later, Upton hit a ball to left field that bounced off the wall. From the crack of the bat, Upton reacted to it as a home run, dropping the bat and casually jogging down the first base line. He then tried to stretch it into a double and was thrown out by the left fielder. He was not benched for this incident, however. Joe Maddon was interviewed and called it "just a mental mistake".
During the Rays' June 27, 2010 home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, Upton loafed after a ball hit by Rusty Ryal
Rusty Ryal
Rusty Allen Ryal is an American professional baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. He was picked by the Diamondbacks in the 14th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, Ryal played baseball at Oklahoma State University...
into left-center field, allowing a double to become a triple. At the end of that half inning, Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
approached Upton in the dugout, obviously to mention his displeasure with Upton's effort. Upton immediately became irate at the criticism and argued face-to-face with Longoria, repeatedly pointing a finger in his face, until Longoria walked away while Rays player Willy Aybar
Willy Aybar
Willy Del Jesus Aybar is an infielder who currently plays for the Yuma Scorpions in the North American League. Aybar has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays...
grabbed Upton by the waist and took him away from the scene.