Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Up Upton and Away

Justin Upton and the red hot Atlanta Braves are off to a rocketing start. Bryce Harper and the Nationals were my pick and the pick of many others to win the National League East in 2013, but it is the Braves' star left fielder leading the first place Braves.
Whatever you can do I can do better. 

With his older brother, BJ, to his left this 25 year old outfielder is doing much more than the Braves would have hoped for when they traded for him this off season. In 2012 with the Arizona Diamond Backs Justin Upton hit a respectable 17 home runs in 150 games played. In 2013 he has already crushed 11 homers in just 21 games. For Upton the sky is the limit, but he is heading for the sun, because they don't come much hotter than he is right now.

The power for Justin is very noticeable, but it isn't the only thing to be impressed about. About one-eighth into the season Justin Upton is playing considerably better defense after shifting to left field from right field to accommodate slugger Jason Heyward. Also Justin has stolen 3 bases in 3 attempts in 2013. You can pencil Justin Upton as an early favorite for National League MVP especially if the Braves win the division.

The older of the two Upton brothers is in a terrible slump to begin the season. BJ has blasted 3 dingers thus far, but his on base percentage is a horrific .229. The speed demon has played a fantastic center field for the Braves but has stole the equivalent amount of bases, three and has been caught once. BJ signed with the Braves as a free agent and will be with the club for the next 5 years. Being only 28 years old his value is still high and he is expected to do better, but you can bet he is the less talented of the Upton brothers.

In one game against the Chicago Cubs BJ Upton hit a home run to tie the game and then a few batters later Justin Upton hit another home run to win the game. In Colorado the two brothers hit back to back jacks, it really is a competition between the two of them. You can expect stories about the Upton brothers like that for the next few years.

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