The Angels’ superstar center fielder has finished in the top two in American League MVP voting in each of his four full seasons in the majors (he easily could have been a four-time winner) and is putting together another phenomenal season.
“I try to be the best player and best person I can be on the field, just with preparation and the time you put in,” Trout told Sporting News. “It makes you feel good when you get an accolade like this.”
What Trout knows is that, as good as he has been and continues to be, he has competition for the mantle of the best in baseball. The vote for the SN50 was extremely close, as Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper finished second and would have been first if just one voter who had Trout No. 1 had picked the fiery Harper instead (see the full SN50 here).
“We’ve been linked since we got drafted,” Trout, 24, said of last year’s unanimous National League MVP. “You pay attention to the younger guys in the league, and he’s one of them. He’s had a great career so far, and he’s trying to get better, just like I am.”
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Harper, at 23, is one of several “younger guys” who will be vying with Trout for honors in years to come, with 25-and-under players on this year’s list including Manny Machado (No. 4), Nolan Arenado (No. 8), Carlos Correa (No. 14), Kris Bryant (No. 20), Noah Syndergaard (No. 23), Francisco Lindor (No. 28), Mookie Betts (No. 33), Jose Fernandez (No. 36) and Xander Bogaerts (No. 38).
It’s the link between Trout and Harper, though, that endures, and figures to define their generation of MLB stars.
“I love Harper as the ‘Face of Baseball’ because of his charisma and passion,” said SN50 panelist Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio, who voted Trout No. 1. “But I love up-the-middle-players, and Trout’s still a good defender in center field, hits for average, power (and) is a burner.”
Each player shines whether you measure him by sabermetrics or more traditional standards. Trout, the 2014 AL MVP, led the league in wins above replacement each of his first four years. Harper’s 2015 WAR was higher than Trout had in three of those four seasons.
“We are fortunate to have two players the caliber of Harper and Trout playing at the same time and doing so well at a young age,” said SN50 panelist Jason Collette of Fangraphs, who put Harper first.
Infielder Brendan Ryan has a unique perspective on the pair, having spent spring training this year with the Nationals before becoming Trout’s teammate with the Angels in May. Ryan can see similarities between the two superstar outfielders.
“There’s a look in the eye,” Ryan told Sporting News. “There’s just an air of confidence that they know that they’re different, they know what they’re capable of. They both demand a lot of themselves. Harper’s really hard on himself. He’s a perfectionist. He’ll throw his bat after a bad round of BP, that kind of thing, which I think is funny and great because it makes him more human. There’s attention to detail, how important every at-bat, every pitch is. How they break down at-bats in games, you can see them, there’s some sort of sense of calm, because I think they’re aware of what they’re capable of. It’s pretty cool.”
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There also are clear differences.
While both are listed at 6-2 and 230 pounds, Harper has a bit narrower frame, and it is hard to picture the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft as anything but what he is, a star in the major leagues. Trout gives you the feeling that he could have been dominant linebacker, a fast-skating left wing, a point guard, anything, and this is just what he does — and does at an incredibly high level.
“(Trout’s) strength is, I don’t want to say surprising, but it stood out to me,” Ryan said. “You knew he was strong — he hits homers and all that stuff — but, like, put together, he’s a different animal, a different athlete. I think people see that from the stands, but up close, wow. The type of meals he can put down, OK, alright, I get it. He barrels it up, and it goes a lot further than the other guys. It’s an athletic strength that’s just impressive and extremely rare. Harper is more — Harper’s like — Trout could’ve done anything, Harper’s a born ballplayer. He’s got this perfected swing since the age of negative-3, and he just hits tee shots. Trout is so short to the ball and so strong, that’s why he’s so dangerous.”
Whatever the similarities and differences, Trout and Harper clearly are the class of baseball in 2016. Trout has the edge now. In the years to come, everyone around baseball should continue to enjoy watching them put on a show.
