As more evidence that draft classes for Major League Baseball must be graded many years later, Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect B.J. Upton is now embarking on his fourth year in professional baseball and is biding his time in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls. A can?t miss prospect coming out of Greenbrier Christian Academy; Upton was selected second overall by the Devil Rays and quickly tabbed as a franchise savior.
Upton has showed flashes of that promise throughout the past few years, but fielding troubles have limited his time with Tampa Bay.
?You can always improve in this game and now I?m getting better right now and more comfortable,? Upton said. ?I get to some ball that some other guys don?t get to, so I force some plays.?
His range in the field shows his great athletic ability that has been well documented during his time in the minors. His knacks for hitting for power and being able to steal bases have made him a new-age shortstop. Upton said about himself that he is exciting, leads by example, and comes to work every day.
?I?m down here to work on my defense and that?s what I?m here to do,? Upton said.
Upton said that he always wanted to play professional ball all along, but he did say that if he went to college, it would have been at Florida State. Instead, Upton decided to sign with Tampa Bay and was immediately named one of the top prospects in baseball.
Upton also has a sibling making headlines with as last year?s number one pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Justin Upton, being his younger brother. Justin is currently ranked the second best prospect in the country by Baseball America.
Upton said that his brother was able to see himself go through it, but also had the help of seeing players like David Wright and Michael Cuddyer go through the same process in the same area.
Now Upton just has to wait for his turn again in Tampa Bay, as he will most certainly be apart of the rebuilding project with the Devil Rays. Upton says that with new management this season, there is a different attitude with the team and with all of the young players in the organization, they should start winning soon.
Upton was recently arrested on a DUI charge a week ago Friday, adding to a growing list of off the field problems for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Upton had no comment on the situation, except to say that he was sorry to the Durham Bulls and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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