Harper vs Trout

Bryce Harper and Mike Trout both have burst onto the MLB scene with great success.  Even though they are both too young to legally drink a beer one thing is for sure, they can play with the big boys.  Such similar stories, being a top prospect, first round pick, play the outfield position, and both all stars in their rookie season.  Most people who follow baseball know about Bryce Harper.  This guy was on peoples radars when he was in high school, and his few minor league games were even must watch games.  He was the number one pick in the 2010 draft, taken by the Washington Nationals.  Mike Trout wasn't picked first, instead he was the 25th pick to the Anaheim Angels in 2009.  The expecations weren't as high, but both players were considered great prospects coming out of high school.

Bryce Harper is a big reason for one the biggest surprises in the MLB.  That is the Washington Nationals being in first place in he NL East.  Half way through Bryce Harper's first full season, his stats are .273AVG/ 8 HR's/ 25 RBI's/ 11 SB's. While hitting second in the lineup for the most part, Harper has been a little up and down but solid overall.  Considering these are stats at only the half way point of his first season, it's impressive.  If he keeps the pace up he can put up stats looking something like .280/ 20 HR's/ 55 RBI's/ 25 SB's.

Mike Trout on the other hand has not been up and down.  Just up. The Angels looked dead, and found themselves underachieving to say the least.  Trout was called up and now they are back in the playoff hunt.  Trout's stats thus far are, .349 AVG/ 12 HR/ 41 RBI/ 30 SB.  Those numbers are simply amazing.  You also have to think about two things when looking at Trout's numbers so far.  One, he hasn't even played the whole season because he was waiting to get called up from the minors.  Two, Trout is a leadoff hitter. Having 41 RBI's is insane for a leadoff hitter in less than a half of a season.  To put it in perspective Derek Jeter has twenty more hits than Trout because he has played the entire season, yet has  15 less RBI.  If Trout keeps a similar pace he will end up with stats around .350 AVG/ 30 HR/ 90 RBI/ 60 SB. Trout is already one of the most fun players to watch in the game.

Me personally I would take Trout over Harper now and also in the future.  Some reasons are outside of the actual game.  People who know Trout say this guy has an even better head on his shoulders than he has talent on the field.  He is a great kid who doesn't seem to do much wrong.  His idol growing up in New Jersey was Derek Jeter, coincidence? I think not. The guy is humble and just wants to win.

Harper surprisingly has not made sports news for the right reasons since entering the league.  His first mistake was in the minors.  After hitting a home run in a minor league baseball game last year, he starred it down and styled like it was a game winning home run in the world series.  That rubbed people the wrong way.  Then early this year he was asked by a reporter if he was going to have a drink in Canada since he was old enough.  He rudely replied, "That's a clown question, bro."  Later in this season he split his face open after breaking his bat because he recorded an out.  He was bleeding and had to be cleaned up.  He has a reputation for snapping his bat, as he has done this more than a couple times.  The last reason Harper made the news was just yesterday.  Him and always controversial coach Ozzie Guillen got into a little argument over how high his pine tar was on his bat.  The next time he was up he pointed the bat at Guillen as to say, "Is this alright with you?".  Guillen then blew a fuse after that cocky gesture.

Harper just doesn't rub me the right way, and it's tough comparing him to Trout because it seems impossible to not love the way Trout goes about his business.  At the end of the day however, both of these guys are great for baseball.  Long successful careers look to be in both of these kids futures.  But they might not be as similar as you think.