Today’s Tarp Crew Perspective looks back at the notable call-ups of Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and our own young star Manny Machado. It was an interesting summer of 2012, as these three young stars started the season in the minors, and would eventually burst onto the scene as superstars who put the entire MLB on notice.
Harper and Trout were called up on April 27-28 respectively, and got an earlier start than Machado, who came up on August 9 of the 2012 season. I was fortunate enough that season to witness all three of these young stars come to OPACY and showcase their talents.
I’ll start with Harper, who was the number one overall pick in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft. During the 2012 season, he batted .270, with 22 HRs and 59 RBIs, was selected as an alternate for the All-Star Game (the youngest player ever to be selected) and won the NL Rookie of the Year award. Harper was a young bright talent that everyone talked about; he could play the field and bat extremely well and he was part of the reason why the Washington Nationals were able to make the postseason for the first time in 2012. I noticed that he had a great presence on the field and could be a game changer for a team like the Nationals – that’s evident today as he currently leads the NL with 18 HRs, and is a leading NL MVP candidate this season.
Trout was the 25th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. During the 2012 season, he batted .326, with 30 HRs and 89 RBIs, was selected to the All-Star Game as an alternate and won the AL Rookie of the Year award. I saw Trout previously in the 2011 season, as he debuted with the Angels and hit his first career home run in Baltimore. He returned to MLB in the 2012 season and put on an absolute show in Baltimore. On June 27, he robbed J.J. Hardy of a home run in center field with the most amazing catch I’ve ever seen. I was sitting in the right field cage, when I saw Trout run for the ball and snag it with amazing athleticism and fielding ability. I could only look on in amazement at this rookie that had taken the MLB by storm. Trout would be the MLB MVP in 2014, and continues to show his great hitting and fielding abilities.
Machado was the last of these three great superstars to be called up in 2012. On August 9 against the Royals, the O’s made the surprise move to call up their young shortstop prospect to fill in at third base during their surprising playoff push. And did he fill that hole or what? Manny put on a show during his short stay in 2012, as he batted .262 with seven HRs and 26 RBIs.
We all remember his second game against the Royals when he crushed his first two home runs and his great play against the Rays when he faked the throw to first and got the runner caught between home and third base. Watching from the shed, it was those small examples that gave me hope about our great young prospect. Maybe he could play third base like the previous great Baltimore third baseman Brooks Robinson?
Machado would eventually win a Gold Glove and the AL Platinum Glove in 2013, and be selected as an alternate in the 2013 All-Star Game. Machado is still becoming a great player as he moves forward in his MLB career. He has, unfortunately, suffered two gruesome knee injuries, but hopefully his surgically repaired knees will hold up, as he continues to man the hot corner for the Orioles and grow into his new role as a leadoff hitter.
I write this article to show that we may have legends such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera that retire from the game, but there are rookies – like those who emerged in 2012 – who can change the MLB for the better and put every fan on notice that the young kids can play too. These guys can create new legends for young kids to admire. Maybe one day they’ll see their name enshrined in Cooperstown on a hot July. For now, let’s all enjoy watching MLB’s next crop of superstars, and try to identify which 2015 rookies that will be lighting the diamond up for years to come.
