Justin Upton
Justin Upton
Justin Irvin Uptonis an American professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2007 to 2012, Atlanta Braves in 2013 and 2014 and the San Diego Padres in 2015. He has been a teammate of his brother Melvin Upton, Jr. with both the Braves and the Padres. While primarily a right fielder throughout his career, Upton has since transitioned to left field for the Braves and Padres...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth25 August 1987
CityNorfolk, VA
We tried to get Justin to go to private school, but he was, like, 'I want no part of it,' ... B..J. needed the smaller class size. That was no problem for Justin. So we didn't force him.
I was having a little trouble, ... That girl could sleep in that class and get an A. She's that smart. I asked her to give me a little help. That's how it happened. She was tutoring me, and there was something there.
Yeah, of course I'll mess around with him, ... But he's been in the big leagues already. He can hold that over my head.
I wouldn't be the player I am today if he cut me any slack,
Only if you let it be, ... I think it's easier for me than maybe for some other guys. I watched B.J. go through the same thing. I kind of know what to expect.
Nobody else knows what I'm going through, ... B.J. knows exactly.
It's exciting to be here - and to have my own locker.
It was crazy when they picked me. Everybody had their reaction, and it was just a good time.
Yesterday, I got my jitters out. And today, I took my normal approach to hitting. I got something down and in that I could hit.
Coach Lee is very knowledgeable about the game, ... He's made me better. He'll make comments in practice like, 'You can't get away with that in the major leagues.' I used to field and I'd take a couple of shuffles. He'll say, 'The game is a lot faster there you have to field in rhythm.' He's harder on me than he is anyone else.
I think we're so competitive, ... he wouldn't even realize I'm his brother.
He'd get mad, because he knew I was about to quit, ... And he'd hit me a couple of times, and we'd get into it. He used to try to make me cry. That was his favorite thing to do. Usually I'd go after him, and then I'd start running.
I already met Orlando Hudson and he's kind of taken me under his wing. He and my brother are pretty tight, so he's going to show me the ropes a little bit.
That's a monkey off my back. That's what I wanted to do, get one hit at least and get myself in a groove, and hopefully I won't be as nervous when I get another at-bat.