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Chesapeake’s Justin and B.J. Upton remain highest-drafted brothers in major league draft history
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- Chesapeake’s Justin and B.J. Upton remain highest-drafted brothers in major league draft history
A pair of Chesapeake brothers — Justin Upton and B.J. Upton — still hold the distinction of being the highest-drafted siblings in Major League Baseball history.
That was in danger this week as Ethan Holliday was projected by some analysts to go No. 1 overall to the Washington Nationals , joining older brother Jackson Holliday , the No. 1 overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022.
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Instead, Ethan Holliday went fourth overall Sunday to the Colorado Rockies — the club that drafted the Hollidays' father, Matt, in the seventh round in 1998.
In 2005, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Justin Upton, a star for Great Bridge High, with the first pick . B.J. Upton, who starred for Hickory High and Greenbrier Christian Academy, went No. 2 overall in 2002 to Tampa Bay. The Uptons bested the standard set by Dmitri and Delmon Young , picked No. 4 and No. 1, respectively, 12 years apart.
The MLB draft begin in 1965.
B.J. Upton played in more than 1,400 major league games for four teams from 2004-16, finishing with a career batting average of .243, 164 home runs and 586 RBIs.
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Justin Upton made his major-league debut in 2007 and played in 1,845 major league games for six teams. He finished in 2022 in Seattle with 325 home runs and 1,003 RBIs. His 27 home runs in 2013 and 29 homers in 2014 both ranked fourth in the National League when he played for the Atlanta Braves .
Both Uptons played for Atlanta in 2013 and 2014.
Jami Frankenberry, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com
