Upton struggled last season in the Midwest League (.263/.343/.413 with 12 HR), so it’s a pleasant surprise that he blazed through High-A (.341/.433/.540 with 5 HR in 126 ab), continued mashing in Double-A (.309/.399/.556 with 13 HR in 259 ab), and got his ticket to the big leagues yesterday. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 Draft, ranked No. 2 in our recent Top 25 Outfield Prospect list, and came in at No. 4 in our most recent Top 25 Rankings.
Patient – there was a line to talk to him in the Futures Game clubhouse and he talked to everyone – candid, and sincere, Upton told me about: what he’s doing to feel more comfortable at the plate, a flaw he had in his swing last year against lefties, and how he embraces the mental challenges that come with playing pro ball.
Adam Foster: What did you learn about yourself as a ballplayer last year?
Justin Upton:
Just simple stuff like ways to take care of my body, what I needed to
do to be in shape for a longer season because that was the first time I
played long-season. So that and just little things about the game that
I picked up during the season that I went home and fine-tuned, as far
as keeping my swing consistent and outfield stuff. I did outfield work
in the offseason and it seemed to help a little bit.
Foster: How have you felt at the plate this season versus last season?
Upton :
I’ve got a better approach to the game...different pitches how to tell
myself while I’m hitting or what approach to take against certain
pitches. I just feel comfortable. It’s just kind of one of those things
you pound into yourself and try to make it second nature.
Foster:
Speaking of different approaches, you’re hitting lefties as well as you
have during any point of your pro career right now. Have you spent a
lot of time working on your approach against them?
Upton :
Last year there was a flaw in my swing that caused me not to hit
lefties. I was pulling off the ball and stuff like that. This year, I
went home and I fixed it. This year, righties and lefties I feel
comfortable against.
Foster: Were you at all surprised when you were brought up to Double-A in mid-May?
Upton : Yeah, I thought that they’d wait until the All-Star Break or afterwards, so it was surprising. But I thought I was ready.
Foster: Did you grow up idolizing any particular ball players?
Upton : I had a bunch of guys that I watched...Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter. Those were a couple that I did watch growing up.
Foster: Has your brother offered you any specific advice that has helped you become a better professional athlete?
Upton :
Just watching him play, I picked up little things. But other than that,
we don’t really like to talk about the game that much. When we talk on
the phone, we talk about off-the-field stuff...“What’s going on?” “How
you feeling?” But other than that, just growing up watching him I
picked up a few things.
Foster: What has it been like for you adjusting to the mental challenges of playing full-season ball?
Upton : I like challenges. And any kind of tips that I can pick up, I pick them up and I go with them.
Foster:
What’s your response to critics who point to the hitter-friendly
environments you’ve played in this season when evaluating your success?
Upton : You know what, people’s opinions don’t bother me. I go out and I play hard and that’s just what I do. Whatever they have to say, they can say, and that’s cool. I can live with that.
Adam Foster can be reached at adamf@projectprospect.com.