B.J. Upton

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**B.J. Upton**
Major League Baseball debut
Tampa Bay Devil Rays — No. 2
Shortstop
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
August 2, 2004 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Selected MLB statistics (through July 21, 2006)
Batting average	.258
Home runs	4
RBI	12

Melvin Emanuel "B.J." Upton, (born August 21, 1984 in Norfolk, Virginia) ("Bossman Junior", his father's nickname was Bossman) is a top hitting prospect of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Widely considered as a very polished hitting prospect who will hit for power and average, it is only his lack of defense at shortstop that has kept him in the minor leagues until now. Some point to the fact that Derek Jeter had a similarly bad defensive record in the minor leagues however, and argue that Upton will become a high-quality shortstop in time. In 2005 at Durham, he committed 53 errors but batted .301 with 41 stolen bases.

Made his debut on August 1 2004 and became the youngest Devil Ray ever, after being ranked as the second best prospect in baseball by Baseball America. His younger brother, Justin Upton, was taken with the top overall choice of the 2005 Amateur Draft in 2005, making them the highest drafted siblings of all time.

Upton was promoted on July 31, 2006, from the Devil Ray affiliate, Durham Bulls to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Major League Baseball Team. The next day, a home game at Tropicana Field against the Detroit Tigers, Upton was booed as he entered the batters box in the second inning for his at-bat. He had complained about the conditions at Durham as well as not being called up to the majors sooner. In that at-bat, he connected for a single off Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. In the eighth inning, his fourth at bat, he hit a double. He eventually scored a run off a Carl Crawford double. He had two other plate appearances in the evening both of which were strikeouts. Playing third base, he committed no errors.

In the upcoming 2007 season the Devil Rays plan on using Upton as a utility player at shortstop, second base, third base, center field and right field.[1]