There’s nothing like beating a sibling, which is why this weekend is going to be a special one for B.J. and Justin Upton.
According to MLB.com, this weekend’s Tampa Bay Rays-Arizona Diamondbacks series will mark the first time that the brothers have ever competed against each other in any organized sport.
"It will be fun to get a chance to compete against each other, talk a little trash, stuff like that," Justin told MLB.com.
The two plan to spend some quality time with each other during the three-game series in Tampa Bay.
While it’s always difficult for parents to watch their kids face off, it appears as though Yvonne Upton has a solution: wear a “DiamondRays” shirt.
B.J. Upton, who plays center field for the Tampa Bay Rays, was drafted second overall in 2002. He was an infielder at the time and made his major league debut in 2004. In his career, the 25-year-old has hit 55 home runs and driven in 254 runs in 585 games. He is a career .262 hitter and has stolen 146 bases, including 44 in 2008 and 42 in 2009.
B.J. helped propel the Tampa Bay Rays to their first World Series appearance in 2008, smacking seven home runs in 16 playoff games, including four against the Red Sox in the ALCS.
Justin Upton, the younger of the two brothers, was drafted first overall by the Diamondbacks in 2005 and made his major league debut at the age of 19 in 2007.
The 22-year-old has 56 home runs and 177 RBIs in 359 career games. He broke out in 2009 with 26 home runs, 86 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.
On Friday, we’ll finally get to see who goes up 1-0 in the Upton family series.
