The top prospect in all of baseball, Arizona OF Justin Upton, made his debut late in yesterday's game and fouled out in his only AB. At 19-years of age, one can conclude he is going to be a star. A slash-stat line of 319/410/551 confirms that conclusion.
However, there are only 50 games left in the major league season, and Upton's stats were accummulated in High A and AA. Not having faced the best minor league competition (AAA) leads me to conclude he will not be a mixed league fantasy asset in 2007 as he struggles to adapt to the best pitchers in the world. His fantasy baseball value is almost entirely wrapped up in 2008 and beyond.
If you play in an NL-only league, though, he is worth a pick-up assuming you have an easily upgradable spot. I would not rush out to add him if I had to cut Luis Gonzalez or an OF of that ilk unless the league was a keeper one.
In a keeper league, I would chance that the net difference between Upton and a decent OF would not be the difference maker over the remainder of the 2007 fantasy season.
Year | Team | Age | Level | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | CR |
2006 | A South Bend | 19 | A | 113 | 438 | 71 | 115 | 28 | 1 | 12 | 66 | 15 | 7 | 52 | 96 | 0.263 | 0.343 | 0.413 | 78.1% |
2007 | A+ Visalia | 20 | A+ | 32 | 126 | 27 | 43 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 19 | 28 | 0.341 | 0.433 | 0.540 | 77.8% |
2007 | AA Mobile | 20 | AA | 71 | 259 | 48 | 80 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 53 | 10 | 7 | 37 | 51 | 0.309 | 0.399 | 0.556 | 80.3% |
Totals | 216 | 823 | 146 | 238 | 51 | 7 | 30 | 136 | 34 | 18 | 108 | 175 | 0.289 | 0.375 | 0.478 | 78.7% | |||