LeBron James of Baseball

[RockCoCougars]

If I had to bet, this kid will probably either never make (at all) or never be a good player in the majors. He is an early bloomer with media hype behind him. There have been lots of guys like this and most of them flame out between puberty and the point everyone catches up to them with puberty.

[bullox]

If I had to bet, this kid will probably either never make (at all) or never be a good player in the majors. He is an early bloomer with media hype behind him. There have been lots of guys like this and most of them flame out between puberty and the point everyone catches up to them with puberty.

What a great outlook.

 

I would love to see the kid succeed and really become a transcendent player that kids who follow can look up to. Granted the chances are slim, but every once in a while, there are very special players. I say why not.

[Invader3K]

It just seems like whenever SI or ESPN try to latch onto some kid as the next big thing, there are probably about 10 who never become anything big to every one LeBron James type. Remember Freddy Adu, for example?

[Tedaldtada]

It just seems like whenever SI or ESPN try to latch onto some kid as the next big thing, there are probably about 10 who never become anything big to every one LeBron James type. Remember Freddy Adu, for example?

 

Actually, Adu is still a very promising soccer player in Europe right now. He has a great skill set and his upside is vast. As baseball fans, we can appreciate a description like that. I mean, he was playing MLS at age 14 or something.

[Diskono]

I highly doubt Adu would have ever been hyped very much if he began his career overseas. He still could be a good player, but he's been in Europe for a year and a half now and hasn't even started a game in the second-tier leagues he's played in.

[bacon06]

Adu has the same disadvantage most American soccer players in Europe have: being American. American players have a scarlet letter on their chests when trying to make it in Europe because Europeans would rather give playing time to someone who comes from a country that actually likes soccer.

 

As for the wunderkind, he comes off as cocky, which isn't surprising because I'm sure all he's heard from everyone is how good he is and will be. His stated goal is to be in the hall of fame and be considered the greatest baseball player who ever lived. Apparently winning a World Series isn't very important to him.

[phxMILWfan]

bacon- I took more issue with the fact that he says he wants to play for the Yankees. Simple logic says that he will be a top 5 pick and that the Yankees won't be there to pick him. What does that say to whatever team that picks him? As soon as he can leave to go to NY he's leaving. Theres no pro team in Nevada so I can't fault him for being a Yankee fan but why does he want to play there? Is it their history and tradition? Or is it the money? I'd bet that it's the money. So you have a 16 year old who states that he wants to be a hall of famer, best player to ever play the game and make as much money as possible. All with out mentioning that he's interested in winning a championship. I'm not sure I'd draft him.

[Invader3K]

That reminds me of a story I heard from a few years back. I don't remember all the details exactly, but the Reds had some highly touted pitching prospect. He was with them for spring training, and was brought in to pitch an inning during a game. He had a pretty good outing, with at least one strike out and I think a couple ground outs. Afterward a reporter asked him about his showing and he remarked, "I dominated them." Ken Griffey Jr. quipped about what an honor it was to play with "a future Hall of Famer". Anyway, the kid ended up not making it and was out of baseball a couple years later.

[Paul77]

Did I hear correctly that this kid has dropped out of High school, is in the process of getting his GED and enrolling in community college with a eye on being draft eligible next season?

[phxMILWfan]

Where did you hear that? Everything I had read was that he was going to get his GED this year, junior college next year, draft eligible in 2011.

[Diskono]

That reminds me of a story I heard from a few years back. I don't remember all the details exactly, but the Reds had some highly touted pitching prospect. He was with them for spring training, and was brought in to pitch an inning during a game. He had a pretty good outing, with at least one strike out and I think a couple ground outs. Afterward a reporter asked him about his showing and he remarked, "I dominated them." Ken Griffey Jr. quipped about what an honor it was to play with "a future Hall of Famer". Anyway, the kid ended up not making it and was out of baseball a couple years later.

Ryan Anderson aka "The Little Unit". He actually attempted a comeback much later, and briefly pitched in the Brewers organization.

[crewcrazy]

Harper will earn his GED this fall and has enrolled at a two-year junior college, making him eligible for the 2010 draft. Considering where the Washington Nationals are right now, it's conceivable they could end up with two of the most hyped prospects in recent memory.

 

As far as the "LeBron James of Baseball" title is concerned, I think it has more to do with the amount of press coverage he's getting as a 16 year old, not necessarily what he'll be once he starts playing professionally. James landed on the cover of SI as a sophomore as well, but I think it'd be unfair for any teenager to adapt to stardom as well as he has.

[chowyo123]

His swing is beautiful, though (except for that weird leg twist, that'll be gone as soon as he hits the minors).

I just saw BJ Upton's cycle and noticed his leg kick/twist is similar to Bryce's:

 

Upton: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=6970183

Harper: http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4864/brycefront.gif