MLB: Three Players 25 and Under Destined for the Hall of Fame
By Jason Reed
Bryce Harper
I am still a very firm believer in Bryce Harper, despite how his 2016 went. My biggest argument for Harper is that he is still very, very young. Harper is barely 24 years old, giving him a year and a half cushion on Mike Trout. Plus, Harper has been living in Trout’s shadow for years. They came up around the same time and one has exceeded the other. Harper was the next big thing, while Trout quietly made his mark as the best prospect in baseball. Despite this, Harper will likely see himself in the Hall of Fame one day.
Pitchers figured Harper out in 2016, but he can always rebound and put together a great career. Let’s face it, Harper’s 2015 was super special, and was better than any year Mike Trout has ever had. Sure, Trout has had a higher WAR, but with equal fielding Harper would have blown Trout out of the water. Yes, fielding is an essential part, but Harper’s fielding doesn’t hurt the Nationals. It’s just hard to gain much WAR out in right field.
Regardless, we know Harper’s ceiling to be around .350 with 50 home runs. While that is his absolute max, it isn’t absurd to think Harper can consistently bat .320 with 40 home runs. With an offseason to rest and adjust, Harper will likely come back strong next season. While he may not be like Trout, I would not be surprised to see Harper flirt with 100 career WAR, having a similar career to Albert Pujols.