![]() Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter in baseball, as Mike Trout is the best player. Of everyone, Price was the most convicted. Matt Holliday took Trout – "I took him three years ago, too," he said – and so did Darren O'Day. Brad Boxberger took Trout, probably because of this. Brett Gardner took Trout because he can win games with his power or speed or glove. Joc Pederson took Trout because he plays center field. Posey's vote: "Probably have to say Trout. The other two votes went to San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, and they were cast by Madison Bumgarner and Joe Panik, his Giants teammates. Wouldn't go wrong with him, either." He went with Trout, though, unequivocally, the best pitcher crowning the best hitter. "I think he's the best player in the game. Kershaw himself barely heard the end of the question when he blurted out his answer. Sharing the National League West with Kershaw tends to leave that sort of impression. The first was Kershaw, whom Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Of the 18 non-Harper or -Trout players surveyed, a dozen went with Trout, two refused to pinpoint one player and two other players got a pair of votes each. That's just the power of Trout and the booster club he has built up with three straight seasons of MVP-caliber baseball and a fourth coming together this year. When 20 players were asked about the player around whom they'd build their franchise, Harper was the only one to say Harper – a result that boggles the mind considering Harper is halfway to a potentially all-time great season. Harper three years ago, a survey of All-Stars seems to have put it to rest for now. This was before he was Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle incarnate, the doesn't-miss kid, exploiter of weaknesses, possessor of none – "the guy," Tigers starter David Price said, "the absolute guy. Three years ago, Mike Trout picked himself, too. "Of course I'm gonna pick myself if you give me that opportunity," Harper said. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, whom he called "the best catcher in the game." Then came the caveat. When asked which player he'd choose, Harper said St. Harper was every bit the extrovert as Trout was an introvert, and in that respect little has changed. In 2012, Trout made his first All-Star team as a 20-year-old, and he looked positively wizened next to the 19-year-old Harper, he of the Sports Illustrated cover and skipping of his senior year in high school and rapid ascent through the minor leagues. And as he chose Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers ace typically seen as his pitching doppelganger, Trout was reminded he could select himself if he so desired. He is, by most measures, the best player in baseball. ![]() Trout is 23 years old, the center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels, reigning MVP of the American League, favorite to win this year's, too. All rights reserved.Mike Trout (left) and Bryce Harper shake hands before a game last season. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. Here is my breakdown and comparison of both players from a GM's perspective. Both will start the season playing left field for their respective teams, and both will come with expectations that only players of this caliber could normally handle.Īs a former general manager, I've seen my share of superstars, and both Trout and Harper fit the bill. Trout is a leadoff hitter, while Harper is a middle-of-the-order power hitter. The difficult part in comparing these two is they are completely different types of players. We also used the 20-80 scouting scale baseball uses to grade players' abilities in each of those tools. In this exercise we used the standard five "tools" with which baseball players are evaluated and included a sixth - intangibles - to compare their abilities. So who gives his team the best chance to win over the long term? Who's better: Mike Trout or Bryce Harper? Like it or not, the symmetry in age, early success and endless potential has intertwined their careers and inevitably begs for comparison. With good reason, the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout and the Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper are two of Major League Baseball's brightest young stars. ESPN Insider and former general manager Jim Bowden breaks down Mike Trout and Bryce Harper and determines who's better. Insider debuts this week "Who's Better?" a side-by-side breakdown of two of baseball's young superstars. MLB, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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