Bryce Harper admits Mike Trout is MLB's best player during All-Star Game interview
The debate over who is Major League Baseball’s best player isn’t much of a debate at all if you ask Bryce Harper.
The Washington Nationals outfielder revealed his choice while being interviewed during the 2018 All-Star Game, telling Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Buck that the title clearly belongs to Los Angeles Angels All-Star Mike Trout.
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The revelation came directly after Trout launched a third-inning home run against New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom. Before Trout even returned to the dugout, Buck asked if Harper agreed that Trout was the best player in the league, to which Harper responded, “If you don’t think that, you must not be watching.”
At the same time, millions watching at home surely nodded in agreement.
Harper’s opinion is a valuable one. Since Harper and Trout’s careers began in 2010 and 2011 respectively, they’ve been constantly compared to one another as they’ve developed from the future to the present of MLB. It’s a conversation neither has been able to escape, even though both have tended to shy away from it.
There was no shying away Tuesday night.
Harper shared his opinion while standing in the outfield grass at Nationals Park, his home ballpark in Washington D.C., and in front of one of the largest television audiences MLB will have this season.
Truth be told, it hasn’t been much of a debate among baseball fans and experts in recent years. While Harper and Trout were comparable during the early stages of their MLB careers, few would argue that Trout has surpassed everyone, including Harper, and has probably even lapped most of the MLB field.
At age 26, Trout has already won two American League MVP awards (with three runner up finishes) and earned seven All-Star selections. He’s a lifetime .306 hitter with 226 home runs and 619 RBIs in just 1,022 career games.
The numbers don’t lie, and neither does Bryce Harper. Mike Trout is the man in MLB.
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