JETHAWKS NOT FOR PHENOM, YET DIRECTOR SAYS CENTER FIELDER SHOULD FINISH FIRST YEAR.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN Special to the Daily News

LANCASTER -- One of minor league baseball's most talked-about prospects probably won't be in Lancaster anytime soon.

That's according to A.J. Hinch, the JetHawks parent Arizona Diamondbacks farm director, who at least for now believes it is in 18-year-old phenom Justin Upton's best interests to complete his first full year of pro ball at low-A South Bend (Ind.) in the Midwest League.

Upton, the first overall pick in last year's draft, signed for a record $6.1 million bonus out of Chesapeake (Va.) High early this year. He is the younger brother of Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect B.J., the No. 2 overall pick in 2002.

Originally drafted as a shortstop, Upton is being developed as a center fielder, the only position he's played in 86 games at South Bend.

Going into Thursday, Upton was batting .264 (87 for 330) with nine homers and 47 RBIs.

After batting .324 (12 for 34) in April, he has since tailed off. In July he batted .240 (23 for 96) including a dreadful stretch when he was hitless in eight of 10 games (July 16-27), going 3 for 36.

``This is his first 140-game season and I think that's why he's tailed off a bit, but we're thrilled with what he's doing,'' Hinch said.

Hinch said a late-season promotion to Lancaster remains a possibility, but only under a narrow set of parameters.

He said the Diamondbacks' top priority is the development of Upton, and others he'd displace if he were assigned to Lancaster.

Post-season positioning will also be considered, Hinch said.

Heading into Wednesday, South Bend had a healthy lead over two teams in the wild card race. The fourth-place JetHawks (49-57, 17-19 second half) trailed first-place Lake Elsinore (19-18) by 1 1/2 games out in the second-half title race, their most realistic chance at making the playoffs.

Lancaster's need for Upton is questionable. The JetHawks already feature one of the California League's most productive outfields. Center fielder Chris Rahl leads the league with a .344 batting average. Brandon Burgess (.265 average, 20 homers, 59 RBIs) and Jereme Milons (.290 average) have made significant contributions too.

``I don't anticipate (Upton) moving this year,'' Hinch said. ``It wouldn't be bad for him to play his first full year in one place, but if he gets hot and we decide it would benefit him to have some time in the Cal League we won't be afraid to do it.''

Celebrity softball:

Actor Fred Willard (``Best in Show'') and former UCLA football standout defensive back Kermit Alexander, who also played in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, are among 12 actors and athletes confirmed to play in Sunday's Jeremy Rourke Foundation Celebrity Softball Game.

The game is at 1 p.m. Sunday at Clear Channel Stadium.

Patrika Darbo, Michael Dudikoff, Jenn Gotzen, Bobby Hosea, Ayinde Jones, Chip and Kim McAllister, Bruce Sievers, Richard Steinmetz and Eddie Valez are the others.

The softball game precedes an already scheduled 6 p.m. game against the Lake Elsinore Storm.

Proceeds from the game will benefit the Jeremy Rourke Foundation and National Foundation Against Violence in Youth Sports.

The Jeremy Rourke Foundation was started by Brian Rourke, whose 15-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed by another teen striking him in the head with a bat in April 2005.

The celebrity team will play a nine-inning softball game against a team made up of local community members.

The $10 admission includes entry for both games.

Road woes:

Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Visalia Oaks was the JetHawks 14th road loss in 15 games.

Lancaster has among the league's best home records (32-20), and is coming off a home stand in which it won nine of 10 games, but has by far the league's worst road records (17-38).

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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