On August 1 the Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up former Baseball Factory All American B.J. Upton – a move that was anticipated all season. 

Upton, of Norfolk, VA, was Tampa’s first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft. The shortstop has spent the last two years moving quickly up the minor league ladder.

Starting the 2004 season with the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, Upton was hitting .327 when he was promoted to the Triple-A Durham Bulls.  There he managed a .311 average with 12 homeruns and 36 RBIs.

Now Upton, 19, is the only teenager playing in the majors this year and the first-ever to play for the Devil Rays.

In his first major league start, Upton was the designated hitter and went 1-3 with a run scored.

The Rays have plans to make Upton their starting shortstop, shifting Julio Lugo to second.

Baseball Factory will continue to follow Upton as his career with the Devil Rays continues.