Young: Where has Justin Upton’s power gone?
From SABR member Geoff Young at Baseball Prospectus on July 31, 2012:
In 2011, Justin Upton hit 31 home runs. Fifteen major leaguers hit more. As of July 29, 2012, Upton has hit eight home runs. Nineteen men have hit more… in a single month. Josh Hamilton and Jose Bautista have done it twice. Trevor Plouffe has done it.
Yes, that Trevor Plouffe.
Consider the absurdity of such an occurrence.
<snip>
Upton, meanwhile, is 24 years old and a ridiculous physical specimen who has demonstrated the ability to punish baseballs at the highest level in the world. This isn’t supposed to happen.
Forty-five men have hit 30 or more homers during their age-23 campaign, from Don Hurst in 1929 to Upton in 2011. Fourteen of these men are in the Hall of Fame, and several others (Mark McGwire, Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero, Alex Rodriguez, Andruw Jones, and Albert Pujols) could join them.
Read the full article here: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17817
Originally published: July 31, 2012. Last Updated: July 31, 2012.