The LeBron of Baseball?

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My son played against him at 11u and he was throwing hard back then.

My son also played against Bryce several times from 11 to 14. They say you can't tell a player's future at 11 but Bryce was the exception. He is truly a special player. (It didn't hurt that he looked like 17 at 13.... )

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Originally posted by Hawk19:

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My son played against him at 11u and he was throwing hard back then.

My son also played against Bryce several times from 11 to 14. They say you can't tell a player's future at 11 but Bryce was the exception. He is truly a special player. (It didn't hurt that he looked like 17 at 13.... )

He definitely was a man-child.

Good for him! I'm glad he is focused on his goal. We send academically gifted kids to college early, so why not athletes? At first I thought the parents were being pushy, but on second thought, why not?

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Bryce Harper is the product of a travel baseball industry that mushroomed, just as he himself was growing up, into big business.

I can see the rush to excessive travel ball play now. Yes, your kid can be the next Bryce Harper. Harper is not the product of the travel ball industry. He's a kid who was born with IT and cultivated his ability. He'd still be excessively talented if he was playing Legion ball.

Here is a story from about a year ago.

Bryce Harper

Most interesting is this part...

"We won’t be the only ones to recognize Bryce Harper. The whole baseball world is going to be hearing a lot about him in years to come."

Now on the Front Cover Sports Illustrated

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl...own-a?urn=mlb,167844

I first heard of Bryce Harper from the PG website at least a year ago. At the time, I figured if PG thought he was this outstanding at such a young age that he must be the next big star.

I think the LeBron analogy is not a good one. This kid is a great athlete but I don't think he could go out there on a basketball court at 18 years old and mix it up with someone like Ron Artest. LeBron's first NBA game as an 18 year old was 26 points and almost a triple double. He is one of the few people to ever live up to the hype.

Hitting 500 ft. homeruns is impressive indeed but quite a different feat against live MLB pitching. If the kid goes out and hits a homer, drives in two or three runs, scores a couple of runs, and plays solid defense in his first MLB game when he is 18, then maybe we can continue with the LeBron analogies.

I think a better comparison for this kid would be Josh Hamilton who could also hittem that far and had a cannon for an arm in high school. Apparently, Bryce is also very fast so maybe even Josh did not have that tool. Another player that no one mentions anymore is Bob Feller. He started in the big leagues in 11th grade and struck out 15 batters in his first game. I would like to see if Bryce can do things like these (against MLB competition) before the media starts hyping him as the next LeBron James.

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We won’t be the only ones to recognize Bryce Harper. The whole baseball world is going to be hearing a lot about him in years to come.

Must admit, he's really good, but I didn't think a 2011 would be the talk of baseball right before the 2009 draft. Did I hear "Hall of Fame"? Kind of early for that kind of stuff.

Also it was mentioned that Bryce runs so fast he scored on wild pitches 6 times this season from second base. Now I don't care who you are... Is that even humanly possible against real players. We have not seen speed as being a plus tool for Bryce, but when it comes to power and arm he sure stands out in a big way.

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Perhaps those pitches were more wild than you could ever imagine?

PG - I noticed his most recent PG profiles do not show a pitching velocity or a time for the 60....

His last 60 time showing is from 2005 of 7.9 and velocity of 79. I realize he was much younger then but wouldn't it be in his best interest to show more current 60 times and velocity? I know, the scouts have seen all they need to know he is special but for the rest of us it would be nice to see his numbers as measured by PG.

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
I think the LeBron analogy is not a good one. This kid is a great athlete but I don't think he could go out there on a basketball court at 18 years old and mix it up with someone like Ron Artest. LeBron's first NBA game as an 18 year old was 26 points and almost a triple double. He is one of the few people to ever live up to the hype.

Hitting 500 ft. homeruns is impressive indeed but quite a different feat against live MLB pitching. If the kid goes out and hits a homer, drives in two or three runs, scores a couple of runs, and plays solid defense in his first MLB game when he is 18, then maybe we can continue with the LeBron analogies.

I think a better comparison for this kid would be Josh Hamilton who could also hittem that far and had a cannon for an arm in high school. Apparently, Bryce is also very fast so maybe even Josh did not have that tool. Another player that no one mentions anymore is Bob Feller. He started in the big leagues in 11th grade and struck out 15 batters in his first game. I would like to see if Bryce can do things like these (against MLB competition) before the media starts hyping him as the next LeBron James.

CD I think you make good points. Also the nature of baseball precludes one from dominating a game offensively even if you are a dominant player. You only get to contribute 1 in every 9 chances. LeBron could keep the ball 24 seconds every possesion.

And he's still a kid. He sounds like he works hard to improve but how much upside does he still have?

bkekcs - I wasn't trying to compare basketball to baseball. I am pretty sure this kid is a better baseball player than LeBron. What I am sure of is he is not the physical speciman that LeBron is and I saw LeBron play in high school as a 16 year old.

All I am asking the media to do is wait until he dominates MLB right out of the shoot like LeBron did in the NBA before they start comparing him to LeBron. Jerry West said that he thinks LeBron will be the greatest to ever play the sport. Time will tell if Bryce is even the next Josh Hamilton let alone the next LeBron.

cheapseats,

Not all the information in our database ends up transfering to the player profiles on the websites. Our last 60 time on him was 6.97. He is quick for a big guy, but far from a plus runner.

Has anyone in the history of the game scored 6 times in their life from 2B on a passed ball or wild pitch? Sorry, but I'm having a hard time with that one. Kind of like the stories keep getting bigger.

Bryce is the best I have ever seen at his age!

He threw 89 from behind the plate without any effort and popped a 1.79 on the money. We have seen him mid 90s on the mound and extreme power.

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Originally posted by PGStaff:
Bryce is the best I have ever seen at his age!

He threw 89 from behind the plate without any effort and popped a 1.79 on the money. We have seen him mid 90s on the mound and extreme power.

Well, I ask you then PG (before I head home from work), is he the next LeBron James of baseball?

If that is what you are saying then it implies the day he graduates from high school, that he will step on to an MLB playing field and start producing like Manny Ramirez or Albert Pujolz? I think not but it is obviously only my opinion. Can you comment on my Josh Hamilton comparison because I think that is more accurate than comparing him to LeBron.

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Apparently, Bryce is also very fast so maybe even Josh did not have that tool.

CD,

Josh Hamilton was much faster than Bryce... much faster! In fact, Hamilton was a plus runner coming out of high school. Nearly as fast as Carl Crawford when they started with the Rays. However, that is still probably the best comparison in recent years. Difference is that Bryce is just a sophomore in high school. That and one projects as a catcher while the other was a centerfielder.

No I would find it hard to compare anyone at that age to Lebron. Besides baseball players should be compared to other baseball players. I actually did respond right while you were posting.

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
bkekcs - I wasn't trying to compare basketball to baseball. I am pretty sure this kid is a better baseball player than LeBron. What I am sure of is he is not the physical speciman that LeBron is and I saw LeBron play in high school as a 16 year old.

All I am asking the media to do is wait until he dominates MLB right out of the shoot like LeBron did in the NBA before they start comparing him to LeBron. Jerry West said that he thinks LeBron will be the greatest to ever play the sport. Time will tell if Bryce is even the next Josh Hamilton let alone the next LeBron.

CD I don't have the gift of explaining very well. My reference to baseball and basketball was meant to refer to what SI was saying as opposed to you comparing them. I think your points on the subject are valid and I agree. The kid is good but this hype is not healthy.

On the other hand if he makes it big down the line my kid can say he played against him.

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Originally posted by bkekcs:
On the other hand if he makes it big down the line my kid can say he played against him.

From the sounds of it, he is going to make it big! That will always be a thrill for your son and hopefully there are more of those experiences to come

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Originally posted by PGStaff:
Besides baseball players should be compared to other baseball players.

Agreed. The reason they are comparing him to LeBron versus someone like Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays is the name recognition that LeBron has right now and at the end of the day, the SI story is about hype in order to draw attention to the magazine. I am willing to let the young man develop on his own time. I also believe it takes longer for a baseball player to develop than say basketball but even in this sport, every once and a while, someone like Junior Griffey defies the odds.

Another player that might be a useful comparison is Joe Mauer. From what I understand, Joe was quite the athlete in other sports as well as baseball. I imagine that Bryce projects more power than Joe Mauer? no rhyme intended btw

i hate hype in baseball

the kid has talent thats for sure, but if he catches theres a HUGE toll on his body he's going to encounter, especially when he ages a few more years and his knees start to feel it (if he still catches) how will he deal?
but if he plays outfield, hes another adam dunn? ryan braun? (not a hamilton, cause josh can run with the best) or infield? Arod, Howard? theres plenty of power hitters in the league. does he have the ability to adjust, the intelligence to figure out mid at bat what the best pitchers are trying to do? he could pitch and throw 96 and not make it out of double A.

there is no one baseball player we will ever say will be the clearcut BEST. the games been around quite some time and just ask the question to any two baseball fans who the best player ever is and a debate will take place with numerous different players of all different time periods. and from reading what the kid says about himself it will certainly be interesting to see how he deals with failure.

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
I think the LeBron analogy is not a good one. This kid is a great athlete but I don't think he could go out there on a basketball court at 18 years old and mix it up with someone like Ron Artest. LeBron's first NBA game as an 18 year old was 26 points and almost a triple double. He is one of the few people to ever live up to the hype.

Hitting 500 ft. homeruns is impressive indeed but quite a different feat against live MLB pitching. If the kid goes out and hits a homer, drives in two or three runs, scores a couple of runs, and plays solid defense in his first MLB game when he is 18, then maybe we can continue with the LeBron analogies.

I think a better comparison for this kid would be Josh Hamilton who could also hittem that far and had a cannon for an arm in high school. Apparently, Bryce is also very fast so maybe even Josh did not have that tool. Another player that no one mentions anymore is Bob Feller. He started in the big leagues in 11th grade and struck out 15 batters in his first game. I would like to see if Bryce can do things like these (against MLB competition) before the media starts hyping him as the next LeBron James.

I will always be skeptical about a player until they reach their potential, whatever that is. If it is the HOF, then congrats. If it is the California League I am afraid folks will be disappointed.

CD, your analogy to Hamilton is appropriate and no one would ever wish his experiences on anyone, but the I think the game demand focus on the next level. It seems when players lose focus on the carrot directly in front of them they can more easily go off course.

I think back to two prep golfers who were hyped beyond their skill sets. Ty Tryon was a can't miss super star who quit high school to turn pro and was never heard of after signing for millions in endoresements.

Everyone proclaimed Michele Wie the first (next) female Tiger Woods who was so superior to female golfers she would be competeing with the men, even before she graduated from high school. Well, she is in college and she has not beaten th girls yet, not surprisingly.

There are no short cuts. If he skips the rest of high school that would be a mistake. There are plenty of guys who were rushed to the Show only to flame out. Jordan Shafer was demoted today, by the way. The game is progressively more difficult to play at each level. I have seen guys who excelled at high school and college get stuck in high A and AA for a wide variety ofreasons, both professional and personal.

Projecting a high school player to an MLB All Star is a leap that requires several leaps of faith. Let's see if he can hit a Low A slider first. I am immediately reminded of a very toolsy 6-5 240 pound outfielder who was coveted out of high school, but signed with Stanford and has climbed to double A...five short years after getting out of high school.

My school might play in the Las Vegas tournament next year, it's still a rumor. Part of me wants to pitch vs him, and another part doesn't.

So much of HS baseball recruiting and the draft is about projection. Who can possibly project higher than this kid with his size and talents. Hence the hype.

Some perspective of another superstar who played in the bigs quickly.

Arod made his MLB debut at 18 in July then played some the following year @ 19 yrs old. In 2 seasons @ 18 & 19 years old he batted .224 in 65 games.

Please don't turn this into a steroid discussion, I just wanted to throw out some comparison of a very young player in the Majors.

I saw Bryce play a few times in youth ball and he was impressive. I know he routinely played for the Southern Nevada Bulldogs and the SoCal Redwings as well as being recruited to play in tournaments all over for teams. I don't know his family but I do know people who do. They say his parents are quiet and unassuming people and they aren't rich.

Bryce is not alone in being flown all over the country to play to many a different team. I guess having someone pay your airfare etc to get to these tournaments does not affect your amateur status but it sure begs the question.

cheapseats,

I also first noticed/read about Harper on the Perfect Game website, but I just noticed something else when I read the PG article again:

The caption on the photo with the 2008 article says that was Bryce at an earlier event when he was only 12! He looks like he could be 15 or 16 in that age-12 photo.

http://www.perfectgame.org/sto...ral_phenom_for_2011/

I also found it very interesting to re-read these parts of the PG article now:

"Our first look at Bryce Harper happened in a small PG Showcase for pre high school age kids in Southern California. Most of those attending that event were Freshman and Sophomores in high school. However one young 6th grade boy from Las Vegas showed up. We were very concerned about someone that age competing with kids much older. Our fears were a waste of time because the young 6th grader was by far the best prospect at the event. He hit two homeruns during the game and showed MLB average skills behind the plate. He also stood out as a shortstop and even pitched well. But perhaps the most amazing thing was that this young boy had something you can’t teach, he had a feel for the game that many lack even at the professional level. You knew he was going to be very special. We didn’t grade him simply due to his young age. We would have had to give a 12 year old a 10. That was our very first Bryce Harper sighting and he just continues to keep getting better and better."

(I hope it's okay to copy this excerpt with the link.)

Julie

I think Sports Illustrated has done the kid a great disservice. He could turn out to be a great player and never live up to the hype. Or he could be even better, or he could be injure, or succumb to a lot of thngs.

As good as he is, it remains best to let him grow up a little before putting him on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

I still am wondering whatever happened to David Clyde.

I disagree that it does Bryce a disservice. Regardless of what SI put about him, he still has the same tools, attitude,and projection. Bryce, from what I've read, is very motivated and plans not to let anything in his way.
All SI did was bring him to the forefront of people who may not follow baseball prospects as closely as scouts. As everyone here knows, there are many studs who never play an inning in the majors. I have no idea who David Clyde is and that is probably an example of a highly touted guy who went nowhere. But putting Bryce on the cover will in no way affect whether he suceeds or not. His production and tools will.

Remember the last guy that recieved this kind of pub before signing with the Yankees?

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As critiqued in The Max...

" A snore fest of epic proportions."

Rumor has it that the scene with Nebraska puking on the mound at Yankee Stadium was filmed as Branden Fraser watched the dailies on the Jumbotron.

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Originally posted by spizzlepop:
Remember the last guy that recieved this kind of pub before signing with the Yankees?

Tommy Lacey: "Yeah Dad, I can have a tutor right in the dugout, like Lou Gehrig."

Lacey's Dad: "Well Didn't Lou Gehrig die from some disease?"

The Scout: "Yes he died from a disease, but he didn't get it from baseball. I think he caught it at school."

This kid looks like hes 20

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I agree. That straw hat sheds at least 10 or 15 years!

There is no question that Bryce Harper is the real deal! The 1st time I ever saw him play he hit a HR on the 1st pitch he saw (w/ a wood bat).

Bryce played with us this past January in a tournament @ USC and I can honestly say that he is the best player that I have ever coached. That is a pretty bold statement since I have had the opportunity to coach some very talented guys.

We played 5 games at USC and Harper played C, P, SS, 3B, and CF. Everyone that has seen him play knows about his body, power, batspeed, arm strength, velocity etc. However, the thing that most impressed me about him was his speed. In addition to hitting a monster HR, playing multiple positions, etc, Harper stole 7 bases in 5 games.

Bryce has all the physical tools to be successful. In addition, he has a certain "drive" inside of him that pushes him to be the best player..... EVER. He is confident, yet he's not cocky. He knows that he's good, but doesn't rub it in other guys faces. He has already achieved a great deal of success, but doesn't get caught up in that. The internal motivation that he has keeps him working hard to be better today then he was yesterday. Bryce is also a very good teammate and isn't a "me" guy.

The entire Harper Family is awesome and with all of the success and attention Bryce has received they have not let it get to their heads. They are good people and I am glad that I had the opportunity to get to know them and call them friends.

It will be fun to see just how good Bryce Harper can be and if he stays healthy he just might be one of the best ever!

Has this player been checked for roids? That's a big IF when it comes to this type of ability as illustrated with big time baseball players of today.

While those exploits are impressive, it has to be determined they aren't juiced up.

zombywoof, In this day and age it's OK to be skeptical.

But roids don't make you a skilled player, from what was said in the PG article.
This is a boy with something special.

( But perhaps the most amazing thing was that this young boy had something you can’t teach, he had a feel for the game that many lack even at the professional level. You knew he was going to be very special. )

Natural ability.

EH

It's not the natural ability or being that special player itself but the enhancement of that natural ability would come into question based on the numbers in articles this player has put up. There's a big difference if a decent hs ballplayer does roids as opposed to a big time hs star to begin with. The base is much higher to work off of the highly skilled athlete.

Inspite of natural ability, there's definitely skepticism on the fact as a freshman he hit a 579FT HR and hit 41 HRs in 113 ABs in HS.

While he may be extremely talented, special and all,these are big numbers and I find it hard to believe these numbers were put up without the help of roids.