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| Justin Upton | |
|---|---|
| Name | Justin Upton |
| Caption | Upton with the San Diego Padres in 2016 |
| Position | Outfielder |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | 25 August 1987 |
| Birth place | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | August 2 |
| Debutyear | 2007 |
| Debutteam | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | September 27 |
| Finalyear | 2022 |
| Finalteam | Los Angeles Angels |
| Statleague | MLB |
| Stat1label | Batting average |
| Stat1value | .259 |
| Stat2label | Home runs |
| Stat2value | 320 |
| Stat3label | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value | 1,003 |
Justin Upton is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners. A first overall pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, he combined power, speed, and defensive versatility, appearing in multiple All-Star Games and finishing with over 300 career home runs. Upton is the younger brother of B.J. Upton and the son of former Norfolk Tides player Melvin Upton Sr., linking him to multiple baseball family legacies.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Upton grew up in a household with strong ties to professional baseball through his father Melvin Upton Sr., who played in the minor leagues for organizations such as the Montreal Expos and New York Mets affiliates. He attended Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, attracting scouting attention from franchises including the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Named a top prospect by publications such as Baseball America and Perfect Game USA, he committed to a professional career and was selected first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.
Upton debuted in MLB with the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2007, joining teammates such as Brandon Webb, Chipper Jones, and Chris Young. He hit his first major league home run during the 2007 season and emerged as a core player in the late-2000s Diamondbacks outfield with contemporaries like Stephen Drew and Luis Gonzalez. In December 2012, a high-profile trade sent him to the Atlanta Braves in a deal involving prospects including Martin Prado and Gordon Beckham; with Atlanta he lined up alongside stars such as Freddie Freeman and Craig Kimbrel.
Upton was traded to the San Diego Padres in April 2014, where he joined hitters like Yasmani Grandal and Matt Kemp. In December 2014 he signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Detroit Tigers, a roster that included Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, and produced power numbers while playing in Comerica Park. The Tigers traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, pairing him with sluggers like Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Later in his career Upton had a stint with the Seattle Mariners during the 2021 season before returning to the Angels in 2022. Over his career he recorded seasons of 30+ home runs and 100+ RBIs, participated in the MLB All-Star Game, and was frequently discussed in trade and free-agent markets alongside players such as Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, and Giancarlo Stanton.
Upton represented the United States national baseball team in exhibition contexts and was part of discussions for international competitions like the World Baseball Classic; however, his primary contributions took place in MLB seasons rather than sustained international tournament play. His career intersected with international baseball events and players from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, Cubaan defectors, and Latin American stars who populate MLB rosters, including competitors from Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
A right-handed hitter and thrower, Upton combined pull power and the ability to drive pitches to all fields, drawing stylistic comparisons to sluggers such as Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun for power output and to multi-tool outfielders like Carlos Beltrán and Andrew McCutchen for athleticism. He displayed above-average sprint speed, allowing occasional stolen bases and outfield range similar to contemporaries Denard Span and B.J. Upton. Defensively, he played all three outfield positions, covering ground often shared with corner outfielders like Nick Markakis and center fielders like Jason Heyward. His swing mechanics and launch angle adjustments reflected trends seen across MLB during the 2010s among players such as Aaron Judge and Miguel Sano.
Upton comes from a prominent baseball family that includes brother B.J. Upton and father Melvin Upton Sr., linking him to the broader community of players developed through programs in the Southeastern United States. He has been connected socially and philanthropically with teammates and personalities like Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Ian Kinsler, and community organizations tied to franchises including the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Detroit Tigers Community Affairs. Upton has maintained residences in markets where he played, including Phoenix, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, San Diego, California, and Detroit, Michigan.
Upton earned selections to multiple MLB All-Star Game rosters and received recognition from outlets such as Baseball America and FanGraphs for his prospect status and seasonal production. He finished seasons ranked among league leaders in metrics like slugging percentage and extra-base hits, and recorded milestones such as his 100th career home run, 200th home run, and 1,000th career RBI. His career achievements place him among notable 21st-century MLB outfielders alongside players like José Bautista, Nelson Cruz, Jayson Werth, and Curtis Granderson.
Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players Category:Atlanta Braves players Category:San Diego Padres players Category:Detroit Tigers players Category:Los Angeles Angels players Category:Seattle Mariners players