06/07/2005 1:00 PM ET
Time is Upton's: D-Backs nab shortstop
Club selects highly touted high schooler No. 1 overall
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com
PHOENIX -- In the end, talent won out over need as the Diamondbacks selected high school shortstop Justin Upton with the first overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.
The Diamondbacks chose Upton, 17, a senior at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Va., over a trio of college pitchers -- Mike Pelfrey, Luke Hochevar and Craig Hansen -- because they felt he was the best player available.
"We feel Justin is a potential impact player in the Major Leagues in the future," Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo said. "He was the top guy on our board. The college pitching was something that had some allure to us, it was just too tough to pass up this player.
Among high schoolers, Baseball America ranked Upton as the best athlete, best five-tool player, best pure hitter, fastest baserunner, best defensive player and closest to the Majors. Baseball talent runs in the Upton family as his brother, B.J., also a shortstop, was selected by the Devil Rays with the second overall pick in the 2002 draft and is with their Triple-A Durham affiliate.
The Diamondbacks had been leaning towards Upton for some time, but did not come to an absolute decision until Monday night.
"I've just seen this kid play so many times," Rizzo said. "I've got so much background on him and he's excelled at every level he's been at. He's exceeded all age groups and timeframes and everything else, and he was the guy I really focused in on. I've always personally leaned towards Justin going as far back as when we, I guess you would say, 'clinched,' the first pick in the draft last year."
With last week's signing of Florida State University shortstop Stephen Drew, the club's top pick in last year's draft, and the presence of 2002 first-round pick Sergio Santos, also a shortstop, at Triple-A Tucson, the Diamondbacks are now loaded at one of the game's premium positions.
Scouts have speculated that Drew or Upton could benefit from a shift to the outfield, but the Diamondbacks see both players as shortstops and they will sort out the position as the players develop. An organizational need was pitching, so the club strongly considered the college pitchers before finally reaching its decision.
"We feel that he was clearly the best player in this year's draft, and although we have several players at that position, we feel that this was a guy too good and too talented to walk away from," Rizzo said.
It's similar to last season when they went into the draft wanting pitching, but took Drew and outfielder Jon Zeringue because they felt the players were simply too talented to pass up in the first two rounds.
Upton has a very strong arm and is a good defender, but like his brother, he sometimes struggles with the accuracy of his throws. He's played third for his high school team and center field at some All-Star classics.
"I've always been a shortstop," Upton said last month. "I'd like to play where I'm comfortable. But the quickest way to the big leagues will probably determine where I'm going to play. It depends on that situation."
A right-handed hitter, Upton has shown good patience at the plate and has outstanding bat speed. He's able to drive the ball to all fields and has good plate coverage and extension.
Once on base, Upton is a threat to steal. He ran a 6.23 in a 60-yard dash at the Perfect Game Showcase, the fastest time ever recorded there.
B.J. Upton, 20, moved quickly through Tampa Bay's farm system, and reached the big leagues last year where he hit .258 with four home runs in 45 games. Needing more seasoning, he began this year with Durham.
"It depends on who you ask," Justin said when asked who he thought was the better Upton. "We don't look at each other's skills. We look at each other as two baseball players. If you ask a scout, you might get a different answer, but to us, we're just two brothers who play baseball."
This is the first time the Diamondbacks have ever had the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Their highest previous pick was the fourth overall pick in 1999 and they used that on a high school shortstop Corey Myers, who is now a utility player at Triple-A.
Upton becomes the fifth shortstop ever taken with the No. 1 overall pick, joining Matt Bush (Padres '04), Alex Rodriguez (Mariners '93), Chipper Jones (Braves '90) and Shawon Dunston (Cubs '82).
Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
ery happy that we took Upton.
