Joining LeBron James, Bryce Harper, and a few others to be on an SI cover while in high school:
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Complete stud. Seeing him in person last year reminded me of the firs time I saw Bryce Harper in person - couldn't help but think that "if this guy stays healthy, he's odds on to be a HOF'er." Watching him hit 8 straight out of Petco in the HR Derby - most in the upper deck of left field - was eye-opening. Then when he took the mound and his first pitch was 97...
This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
2016Dad posted:This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
Good question. It will be fun to watch play out. It is more than unfair to compare Hunter to Bryce Harper. Harper was doing absolutely absurd things (hitting 450+ foot HR's off of college pitchers at the age of 16/17 for instance) when he was still very raw and completely unpolished.
Players like Harper & Trout are like Mantle & Mays, i.e. once in a generation type talents who are way above the talent pool.
I haven't seen enough of Hunter to comment on where he is at talent wise. I would suspect that since he's throwing 102, any team that drafts him is going to make him a pitcher only
3and2Fastball posted:2016Dad posted:This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
Good question. It will be fun to watch play out. It is more than unfair to compare Hunter to Bryce Harper. Harper was doing absolutely absurd things (hitting 450+ foot HR's off of college pitchers at the age of 16/17 for instance) when he was still very raw and completely unpolished.
Players like Harper & Trout are like Mantle & Mays, i.e. once in a generation type talents who are way above the talent pool.
I haven't seen enough of Hunter to comment on where he is at talent wise. I would suspect that since he's throwing 102, any team that drafts him is going to make him a pitcher only
No, it's a fair comparison. By the way, when Harper was 16/17, he was anything but "raw." The kid was developed and ready to go by then. HG is one of those guys. I hate the "once in a generation" tag. I mean, even you list Mantle & Mays. Since they were contemporaries, it's hard to say they were once in a generation.
We can agree to disagree. I saw Harper play alot at 16/17 and have seen a ton of video on him. He was not the polished athlete mechanically that he became in his rookie year of MLB and even more so now. From the limited amount I've seen of Greene he looks more polished mechanically than Harper at the same age but less pure explosive athleticism. It is possible that nobody in history (including Babe Ruth) had as much explosive athleticism at age 16/17 as Harper. I just think the comparison is really unfair to Hunter, and sets up unfair expectations
I will be really really suprised if Greene is ever anywhere near Harper/Trout offensively, and again I think it is unfair to compare him that way. I could see him really developing as a pitcher. But again I haven't seen enough of Greene to know for sure.
Admittedly the only info I have to base an opinion on is what I have read & the video material on PG. Never seen him in person. When I look at the swing on PG it does not appear to be even in the zip code of a Harper or even Clint Frazier's explosiveness at that age. Also, curious to note that there is no posted 60 time or mention of it anywhere that I can find. He is probably below average there. I see a toe plate in the immediate future. Kid clearly has a special arm & makeup.
He's been bred to be a phenom like Harper, but his talent is closer to Derek Jeter at the same age. Kinda raw but you can see great potential. The attitude and competitiveness is exactly what you want in a player.
He is very special. IMO he would be an early pick as a player and the first pick as a pitcher.
Could still be the first pick as a shortstop because of the fall back plan. You always look for the unusual stuff when talking about the very best. Harper, Upton, Trout, all showed very unusual things. Hunter Green is very unusual. That doesn't guarantee gigantic success.
I will definitely be rooting for the kid, that is for sure
2016Dad posted:This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
Can you elaborate on him being "made?"
3and2Fastball posted:I will definitely be rooting for the kid, that is for sure
+1
PGStaff posted:He is very special. IMO he would be an early pick as a player and the first pick as a pitcher.
Could still be the first pick as a shortstop because of the fall back plan. You always look for the unusual stuff when talking about the very best. Harper, Upton, Trout, all showed very unusual things. Hunter Green is very unusual. That doesn't guarantee gigantic success.
IMO, whoever drafts him will draft him as a pitcher.
hshuler posted:2016Dad posted:This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
Can you elaborate on him being "made?"
Yeah, cause I wanna make me one, too.
roothog66 posted:hshuler posted:2016Dad posted:This is what happens when you have a driven kid, athleticism, parents who have the resources to channel that drive to the best private coaches and trainers and keep him in front of the media. To me he seems more "made" than a natural phenom that was discovered. He has put up impressive numbers in showcases, but will it transfer into real games at a high level?
Can you elaborate on him being "made?"
Yeah, cause I wanna make me one, too.
Great minds, Root - great minds!
So having a high drive to succeed, athleticism, and supportive parents is bad?
I wonder what the story is on his 60 time? The SI story made a reference to it, too, that scouts had made snarky comments about his 60 time which motivated Hunter to work on it.
For reference, Harper & Trout both ran 6.4 60's as teenagers
Jordan Adell is another very intriguing prospect: 6.19 60, 96 mph arm, 99 mph exit velocity, plus plus athleticism
Hunter is shut down from pitching for the rest of the season (except bull pens)....
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/...down-from-the-mound/
Saw Jordon Adell at area codes! He's impressive!
Just enjoying the last 4 weeks with my kid who's graduating and leaving!!! Wah!!!