Mike Trout Catch: Web Gem a Reminder That Trout Deserves Bryce Harper-Like Hype

If Bryce Harper sneezes, the baseball world knows.

The hype that the Washington Nationals young star receives is unparalleled. While he’s deserving of most of it, the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is worthy of equal attention—if not more.

On Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, Trout made the catch of the year robbing J.J. Hardy of a home run.

While the stolen run didn’t affect the outcome of the game—L.A. won 13-1—it was just another reminder of the 20-year-old’s rapid route to domination.

Nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter—the man that miraculously robbed Barry Bonds of a home run in the 2002 All-Star game—raved on Twitter about the catch and the kid. He tweeted:

"

@Trouty20made one of the best catches I've seen with my eyes! He's going to be fun to watch for years to come.

— Torii Hunter (@toriihunter48) June 28, 2012"

Hunter giving a compliment about being a phenomenal outfielder is like George Washington giving a compliment about being a phenomenal president. But Trout isn’t just a defensive fiend.

This season, he leads the American League in batting average hitting .345 over the course of 54 games. He’s batting .394 in June. That’s insane.

And the fact that Trout gets on base so easily amplifies his supremacy as a base runner. A .402 on-base percentage helps him rack up steals at a tremendous pace. He’s stolen 21 bases on the year which, like his batting average, is the best in the AL.

Comparatively, Harper is hitting .282, has recorded an on-base percentage of .357 and has eight stolen bases in 2012. Those are impressive numbers for a 19-year-old, but next to Trout’s, they pale in comparison.

While both players have been labeled the next Mickey Mantle, Trout is doing a better job at justifying that comparison. 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels