Justin Upton is a professional baseball player who has had a successful career in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on August 25, 1987, in Norfolk, Virginia, and grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia. Upton was a highly touted prospect in high school and was selected first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 MLB draft.
Upton made his MLB debut in 2007 at the age of 19 and quickly established himself as one of the top young players in the league. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month in August 2007 and finished the season with a .221 batting average, 15 home runs, and 42 RBIs in 43 games.
Over the next few seasons, Upton continued to improve and became one of the most feared hitters in the league. He was named to the All-Star team in 2009 and 2011 and won a Silver Slugger award in 2011. In 2012, Upton was traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he continued to excel. He was named to the All-Star team again in 2014 and finished the season with a .270 batting average, 29 home runs, and 102 RBIs.
After spending three seasons with the Braves, Upton was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2015. He had a solid season with the Padres, hitting .251 with 26 home runs and 81 RBIs. However, he was traded again in 2016, this time to the Detroit Tigers.
Upton had a career year with the Tigers in 2017, hitting .273 with 35 home runs and 109 RBIs. He was named to the All-Star team for the fourth time in his career and finished fourth in the American League MVP voting.
In 2018, Upton signed a five-year, $106 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels. He had a solid first season with the Angels, hitting .257 with 30 home runs and 85 RBIs. However, he struggled with injuries in 2019 and played in only 63 games.
Upton bounced back in 2020, hitting .204 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs in the shortened season. He continued to battle injuries in 2021 but still managed to hit .223 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 93 games.
Throughout his career, Upton has been known for his power hitting and strong arm in the outfield. He has hit over 300 home runs and driven in over 900 RBIs in his career. He has also been a solid defender, winning a Gold Glove award in 2011.
Overall, Justin Upton has had a successful career in the MLB and has established himself as one of the top outfielders in the league. Despite battling injuries in recent years, he has continued to produce at a high level and remains a valuable player for the Angels.
⚾