The future of baseball has arrived.
With the Saturday debuts of highly touted prospects Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, both the American League and National League are entering a new era.
Obviously it’s tough to put such lofty expectations on 19- and 20-year-old kids, but these are legitimately two of the best prospects in the last decade.
Both are also charged with somewhat daunting tasks in 2012. Harper must keep the upstart Washington Nationals rolling, while Trout needs to provide a spark for the Anaheim Angels, who have limped out of the gate.
With their immense talent level, both are capable of pulling off the feats. But how do the two wonder boys stack up against each other? Let’s examine.
Hitting
The two bring different things to the plate, as Harper is a strong power hitter, while Trout torches pitchers by consistently knocking base hits.
This season, Harper has struggled a little in Triple-A, hitting just .250 with a home run and 3 RBI in 20 games. Last year, however, he was dominant in Single- and Double-A, cranking 17 homers and driving in 58 runs while hitting .297 in 109 games.
So far this year, Trout has lived up to all the expectations. In 20 Triple-A games, he has hit .403 with one home run and 13 RBI.
Fielding
Harper has had to make plenty of adjustments in the field the last few years. After playing catcher his entire career, he’s played all three outfield positions since joining the Nationals organization.
Trout, meanwhile, is a pure outfielder. He should have no trouble making the transition from the minors to the pros, at least as far as fielding is concerned.
Intangibles
Both guys are very confident, a trait you love to see from a young prospect.
Torii Hunter recently bestowed some major praise upon Trout, touting his heart and fearless nature.
Harper is also well known for his unflappable demeanor. His mental toughness is very advanced for his age, and he practically oozes confidence at the plate. He was also on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old, so I doubt he will ever be phased by the spotlight.
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