Dueling Rookies

Who's the better rookie, Angels centerfielder Mike Trout or Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper? That's not a clown question, bro. Each made his 2012 debut on April 28, but the similarity between them ends there

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MIKE TROUT		BRYCE HARPER
20	AGE	19
.339/.395/.542, 9 HR, 22 SB	SEASON STATS	.274/.348/.471, 8 HR, 8 SB
4.3 (1st in AL)	WINS ABOVE REPLACEMENT	1.4 (45th in NL)
444 feet, July 1 at Toronto	LONGEST HOME RUN	438 feet, June 12 at Toronto
Leaping home-run-saving catch against Baltimore on June 27	SIGNATURE MOMENT	Intentionally plunked by Cole Hamels on May 6
Timed at 3.53 seconds going from home to first on a bunt single	BASERUNNING FEAT	Timed in 16.35 seconds rounding the bases ... on a home run trot
Buzz cut	HAIRSTYLE	The Skullet
Fish-shaped foam hats	BEST MERCHANDISE	Clown Question Bro Canadian lager
Don Omar & Lucenzo's Danza Kuduro	AT BAT MUSIC	George Thorogood's Bad to the Bone

VERDICT

Harper may already be baseball's most exciting player, but Trout is having the better year and prevails on substance over style.

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AL TIELEMANS

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ROBERT BECK