Parents see the price of exposure as investment








      By Chuck Carree 

      Staff Writer 

      
      Justin Upton and Justin Bristow, two of the top prospects in the East 
      Coast Professional Baseball Showcase at Brooks Field, have been home a 
      combined 20 days this summer. 

      Marcus Jones, an outfielder from the nation's capital, might have had a 
      similar hectic schedule if not for a quadriceps injury, which sidelined 
      him five weeks. 

      Andy May, player agent for Prospect Watch, estimates players at the ECPBS 
      might play 110 games each year between showcases, travel teams and high 
      school. 

      "A lot of these guys are getting burned out,'' May said. "They are playing 
      a pro style schedule while still in high school.'' 

      Nearly year-round baseball also is expensive for parents, who are trying 
      to get exposure for their sons. 

      The Bristows, mother Lee and father David, have spent $5,000-$6,000 a 
      summer on showcases and travel ball for their sons Matt, a rising junior 
      on the James Madison team, and Justin, a rising prep senior in Richmond, 
      Va. Justin has been home only one week this summer. 

      At least one of his parents has accompanied Justin to showcases or games 
      in Florida, Oklahoma, California and Taiwan. In 2003, David spent $1,500 
      to watch Justin in the U.S. Junior Olympic trials in Los Angeles and 
      another $4,000 in Taiwan after Justin made the national team. 

      "You do it because you want to give them every opportunity you can,'' Lee 
      said. "It wasn't motivation to get him (Justin) a college scholarship. It 
      was motivation for him to be able to play at the highest level he can and 
      see what happens.'' 

      Bristow, who started playing travel ball at age 10, was the DH and then 
      pitched Friday for a team sponsored by the Chicago Cubs. 

      Upton, his teammate on the Cubs and the projected top high school prospect 
      in the 2005 draft, already has played close to 70 travel and showcase 
      games this year. 

      His parents, Mandy and Yvonne, have been to the ECPBS four times – two 
      years with each son, Justin and older son B.J., the No. 1 overall pick in 
      the 2002 draft by Tampa Bay. 

      The ECPBS is the cheapest showcase because the players pay only $140 for 
      lodging and meals. Major League Baseball, which sponsors the event, waives 
      the entry fee. 

      "Most of the time you are in a hotel and not around the people you usually 
      play with,'' Upton said. "Here they put you together in the dorms and you 
      get to know other guys. You get a little team chemistry because everyone 
      stays together.'' 

      Upton, a rising senior from Chesapeake, Va., has been home 13 days since 
      school ended. 

      One week after the school year, both Upton and Bristow headed for Tampa 
      and Marietta, Ga., for Perfect Game Showcases. They also played in the USA 
      Tournament of Stars in Joplin, Mo. 

      Manny and Yvonne have seen all Justin's showcase and travel squad games 
      this summer. 

      "This is the easiest year for us because USA Baseball paid for us to fly 
      out to Joplin (Mo.),'' Manny said. "We had to pay for Tropicana. "I'd say 
      we spent $800-$900 bucks between the plane tickets.'' 

      In previous years, including taking B.J. to showcases, the Uptons averaged 
      $3,000-$4,000 a year in expenses. 

      "The way we look at it, we are making an investment in our son's 
      education,'' Manny said. 

      Marcus Jones's father, Keith, is a computer technician for the Washington 
      Post. His mother, Veronica, works for the American Political Science 
      Association. They both consider the price for the exposure the events 
      bring as money well spent. 

      "It is an investment and we hope this investment pays off for both him and 
      for us,'' Veronica said. "One day maybe he will be able to invest in us.'' 


      Since Marcus was 13, the Jones' estimate they have spent $6,000-$7,000 on 
      travel-team fees and showcases. 

      "Some people like to go out and buy fancy cars,'' Veronica said. "We 
      invest in our children.'' 

      The Jones' also pay for Marcus to attend private school in Bethesda, Md. 

      The showcase is the second event for Marcus this summer. He also played in 
      the Perfect Game Wood Bat World Tournament in Marietta, Ga., and he plans 
      to play in the Area Code Games next week in Long Beach. 

      "Foremost we want to make sure he gets the exposure so he has an avenue 
      for education,'' Keith said. "Education is important to us. To get the 
      exposure on the pro level is icing on the cake.'' 

      Jones will likely sign a college scholarship for the fall of 2005. 

      Upton and Bristow will play in the AFLAC All-American Baseball Classic 
      next weekend near Baltimore and Bristow will take one week off and go out 
      for football Aug. 16. 

      "Everybody tells us we are crazy for letting him play, but we can't tell 
      him not to,'' Lee said. "This will be the last year he will ever play.'' 

      "He is a talented quarterback and he is pretty passionate about 
      football,'' David added. "I think he'd have a lot of regrets if he didn't 
      play football.'' 

      
      Chuck Carree: 343-2262 or chuck.carree@starnewsonline.com.