Is it just me, or does it seem like there are more bludgeoning superstar youngsters under the age of 26? Besides making me feel old, baseball is now becoming infused with younger and younger All Star talent, players are coming up at younger ages and making immediate impacts in the Major Leagues. Look at Mike Trout, in his 2012 Rookie of the Year season, based off his WAR alone, he was ranked first at 10.8, a full 2.4 points above second place Robinson Cano, who had just completed his eighth season. Then again in 2013, Trout finished first with a WAR of 9.3, which was also the year he was runner up MVP to Miguel Cabrera. Oh, and by the way, Mike Trout is still only 23 years old!
Bryce Harper, a very good candidate for National League MVP this season with the way his May has been going, currently leads baseball with a WAR of 4.16 through 50 games, 31 games away from the half-way mark! At this pace, Harper should eclipse Trout’s 2012 WAR as long as he stays healthy. Harper currently leads all of baseball in OPS (1.193), SLG (.724), OBP (.469), walks (44), and tied with Nelson Cruz for first in home runs (18). In Harper’s last 30 games, he’s batted .360 with a .850 SLG, 13 home runs, 32 RBIs and 27 walks. Bryce is 22 years old, most ages for young college graduates.
The MLB Youth Movement
How about Kris Bryant, the highly touted Chicago Cubs prospect who was called up on April 17th, has played in just 40 games and already leads all qualified rookies in RBI (32) and OBP (.395). Bryant’s OPS is good for second in all qualified rookies at .875, and tied for fourth in home runs with seven. Bryant’s prodigious power is no shock to Cubs or baseball fans, as he amassed 55 home runs in 181 minor league games. Bryant already has a 1.5 WAR, which should eclipse last year’s rookie leader Jose Abreu who finished at 5.5 in 145 games played. Bryant turned 23 in January.
It’s easy to think that Giancarlo Stanton (formerly Mike) has been in the league for ten years. Stanton is in the middle of his 6th season, and at the tender age of 25, has already hit 169 home runs and has a lifetime OPS of .899. Stanton signed a massive 13 year $325 million deal to stay in Miami for his career this past off-season, hoping to build towards a contender in South Beach. Stanton has the kind of power and awe factor that Mark McGwire had when he stepped to the plate in his prime years. As a fan, you don’t want to miss an at-bat when Stanton steps up to the box, because you might miss a prodigious bomb that Stanton has done so many times in his young career to date. According to ESPN home run tracker, Stanton has three of the top five longest hit home runs this season to date, one measured at 475 feet, another 474 feet, and 467 feet.
Joc Pederson is 23, and finally getting his shot with the Dodgers outfield, which has been a logjam with Carl Crawford, Yasiel Puig, and Andre Ethier taking roster spots. With Crawford and Puig both out with injuries, Pederson has made the most of his time, leading all rookies with 13 home runs, and an OPS of .933. If he can learn to hit lefties better, 1 home run and 3 RBI compared to 11 home runs and 21 RBI against righties, Pederson is going to be a big contributor for the Dodgers for years to come. Pederson has been leading off for Los Angeles, and why not? He’s 17th in baseball in OBP at .387, and sixth in walks with 33. The athleticism, speed, and power he possesses is fun to watch, and just another rookie to keep an eye on.
Obviously there are so many other prime candidates 26 years and younger that are already established stars or close to it. Matt Harvey (26), Anthony Rizzo (25), Sonny Gray (25), Gerrit Cole (24), Madison Bumgarner (25), Chris Sale (26), Manny Machado (22), Chris Archer (26), etc etc etc. Baseball is blossoming with this young talent, and it’s extremely fun to watch. When you get to watch guys that are around your age playing the game you grew up playing and loving, it brings fond memories of days of yore when one writer thought he was good enough to make the bigs one day (sarcasm inserted here). Players are being called upon at earlier ages now, and becoming quick contributors to their respective teams. The youth movement is just beginning, there are some serious talent awaiting in the minors, soon to be mentioned in these posts one day soon.
Main Photo ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a solo home run in the third inning for his second home run of the game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 13, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
