Who’s better, Mike Trout or Bryce Harper?
Mike Trout robs the Mariners Miguel Olivo of a home run with a spectacular catch
Let the debate begin! Two of the hot, young baseball stars reside in Washington and Anaheim.
Of course I’m talking about Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals. Both players are just babies still as Mike Trout just turned 21 years old. And at only 19, Bryce Harper isn’t even old enough to legally have a cocktail yet.
Mike Trout has put together an MVP season so far in 2012
Mike Trout was called up to the big leagues in 2011 and really struggled with a .220 batting average in 40 games played. This year, however, has been a different story as Mike Trout has completely turned the baseball world upside down with his bat and has provided ESPN with plenty of “home run robbing” highlights in center field. In fact, he had one of those spectacular plays in center over this last weekend.
The Angels were playing the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Miguel Olivo, catcher for the M’s, hit a deep shot to center field and it looked like it was going to be a home run. Mike Trout went back to the fence, leaped and grabbed the ball and brought it back for an out. This kid is simply amazing. His stats for this 2012 season are already legendary. Through 92 games, Mike Trout is batting a major league best .340. He also has pounded 21 homers and driven in 65 runs. Trout has also scored 88 runs. But the most amazing part of Mike Trout’s numbers is the fact that he missed the first month of the 2012 season. He didn’t get called up to the big club until early May.
Many baseball experts are considering Mike Trout for the American League MVP this year so far. And many of those same old time baseball experts are already comparing Mike Trout to a young Mickey Mantle. Now that is a lot of pressure to put on this young kid. But if anybody can live up to the hype, it is Mike Trout so far in 2012. We shall see what his final numbers will be as we play out the last two months of the 2012 MLB season.
As far as Bryce Harper goes, he has had a struggle so far in this, his first year in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut on April 28, 2012 against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the baseball world watched in excitement. The young kid has had an eventful few months in his big league career so far. He was hit by a “Purpose” pitch delivered from Philadelphia Phillies left hander Cole Hamels and he got under the skin of Marlins’ manager Ozzie Guillen.
Like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper also looks like he has all the tools to be a great ball player. He can hit and play stellar defense. He hasn’t put up big numbers as of yet, but he will as he takes his lumps in his first full year. Through 92 games, Harper is only hitting .249 with 10 homers and 32 RBI. Not great, but also not bad for a 19 year old kid.
It has been a struggle for Bryce Harper in his first full MLB season of 2012
Now to the big question that baseball fans are asking. Who is better, Mike Trout or Bryce Harper? Right now, it clearly looks like Mike Trout is better because of the huge numbers he is putting up in 2012, but it is still SO early in both of these youngsters’ careers that it is hard to tell. The sky is the limit for these two kids. All I can say right now is check back in 10 years and we will know for sure who is the better player. Mike Trout or Bryce Harper.