Upton traded to Braves for prospects

Former BayBear, and Hall of Famer, Justin Upton has been traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Atlanta Braves. Pending physicals, Upton is off to Atlanta with third baseman Chris Johnson for infielder Martin Prado, starting pitcher Randall Delgado, and minor leaguers Nick Ahmed, Brandon Drury and Zeke Spruill, all of whom considered Braves top 20 prospects.

Upton was the number one overall pick in the 2005 draft by Diamondbacks and joined the BayBears in his second season. While in Mobile, Upton batted .309 with 13 home runs in 71 games played, earning him Minor League Player of the Year in 2007. Upton spent six years in Arizona where he batted .278 with 363 RBIs and 108 home runs.

Ahmed, a shortstop, was drafted by the Braves in the 85th round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Connecticut. The 22 year-old spent the 2012 season in the Class A Advanced Carolina League with the Lynchburg Hillcats where he batted .260 with 49 RBIs and 6 home runs in 506 at bats. Ahmed was named Carolina League Championship Series Most Valuable Player.

With Ahmed's hot season in the Carolina League he will most likely be placed with the Double-A Mobile BayBears for the 2013 season.

Twenty year-old Drury was drafted by the Braves in the 13th round of the 2010 draft out of Grants Pass High School in Oregon. He played for the Rome Braves of the Class A South Atlantic league in 2012 finishing with a .229 average, 51 RBIs and 6 home runs in 445 at bats.

Spruill, 23, was drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 2008 Draft out of Chesapeake, Virginia . In 2012 he pitched for the Double-A Mississippi Braves with a 3.67 ERA and a 9-11 record in 27 starts. The right-handed pitcher will most likely earn his way to Triple-A Reno.

The BayBears wish all the best for Upton in Atlanta.