Justin Upton: MVP today, room to improve?

Aug 15, 2011, 11:28 PM | Updated: Aug 16, 2011, 3:10 am

The Justin Upton for MVP crowd is getting louder seemingly by the day.

The outfielder is hitting .306 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI, leading all of baseball in extra base hits and the Diamondbacks to first place in the NL West.

Certainly worthy of the award now, former D-backs manager and current MLB analyst Bob Brenly says this is only the beginning for the 23-year-old Upton.

“The scary thing is I don’t think Justin Upton is still as good as he’s going to be,” Brenly told Sports 620 KTAR’s Burns and Gambo. “I think there’s still several layers of MVP-caliber ballplayer underneath there, and this is just scratching the surface.”

Brenly said he would have zero issue with Upton being named the NL MVP this year, but the thought of the former top pick getting even better has to be, to quote Brenly, a little “scary.”

That is, unless you’re a Diamondbacks fan, in which case you have to just be excited to see a star coming into his own right before your eyes.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits the ball during the first inning of the Spring T...
Alex Weiner

Five of the D-backs’ Cactus League standouts

Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno were amongst the top performers for the Arizona Diamondbacks during Cactus League games.
14 hours ago
Kyle Lewis #1 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a home run during the first inning of the Spring Tra...
Alex Weiner

D-backs OF Kyle Lewis focused on hitting his marks in stout spring

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Kyle Lewis got off to a late start playing in spring training games, but he caught fire quickly. 
2 days ago
(D-backs Give Back photo)...
Wills Rice

D-backs raise $3.2 million for charity at Evening on the Diamond fundraiser

The Arizona Diamondbacks held their annual Evening on the Diamond Fundraiser on Saturday at Chase Field and raised $3.2 million for charity.
2 days ago
Ryne Nelson (Arizona Sports/Alex Weiner)...
Wills Rice

Report: Ryne Nelson wins D-backs’ No. 5 starting rotation spot, Jameson to bullpen

The D-backs will be moving forward with RHP Ryne Nelson as the team's No. 5 starter in the rotation, MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reported Sunday.
2 days ago
Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Pavin Smith throws during an MLB spring training baseball practi...
Wills Rice

D-backs OF Pavin Smith, INF Emmanuel Rivera optioned to Triple-A Reno

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Sunday that outfielder Pavin Smith and infielder Emmanuel Rivera were optioned to Triple-A Reno.
2 days ago
Catcher Jose Herrera #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks to the dugout during the second inning o...
Alex Weiner

D-backs opt for familiarity with backup catcher Jose Herrera

Jose Herrera and P.J. Higgins were the two prime competitors for the Diamondbacks' backup catcher role after Carson Kelly's injury.
2 days ago
Justin Upton: MVP today, room to improve?