2018: The Year Of The Venezuelan Trout

[SJ24]

Everyone knows the stats by now.

Ronald's AAA numbers at age 19 were better than Mike Trout's AA numbers at the same age.

Then Ronald went on to win the AFL MVP after hitting .325 with 7 HR. The youngest winner ever.



EL ABUSADOR!!!!

[thewupk]

He's going to win ROY and MVP this year.

[Enscheff]

Remember our bet?

[SJ24]

Remember our bet?

Lol no. I have a lot on my plate IRL and forgot about it. What was it?

[Enscheff]

Here you go...

I will bet you that he has a 30/30 year, though. Trout did it as a rookie.

Is that something in which you'd be interested?

Yes. Deal.

If he doesn't post 30+ HRs and 30+ SBs at the MLB level next year, you're gone.

If he equals or beats both those marks, I'm gone.

[SJ24]

Here you go...

Thanks.

If I win, I don't want you gone, though. You crack me up and provide good insight.

[bravesfanMatt]

Where have you been.

[SJ24]

Where have you been.

I'm in college and just generally take some time off following baseball in the winter, anyway.

[msstate7]

I don't think he'll hit 20 home runs his first season.

According to when he gets promoted. You had 2 rookies blow by that number last season, and they were not rated nearly as high

[GeorgiaGirl]

I didn't guarantee that Acuna would hit 20 home runs but it's possible unless you think it's going to be much longer than thought before he gets called up. Unless it's mid June or July before he's up, it's not asking for a lot to see 18-20 from him.

[Enscheff]

It is more likely he hits 20 HR than gets 20 SBs, but 20/20 isn’t an outlandish prediction.

[Oklahomabrave]

It is more likely he hits 20 HR than gets 20 SBs, but 20/20 isn’t an outlandish prediction.

I won’t be surprised if he steals 20 and has like a 65% success rate.

[nsacpi]

Bryce Harper had 13 HRs his rookie year in 395 PA. Slash line of .273/.344/.423. I'd be happy with something similar from Acuna.

[SJ24]

Bryce Harper had 13 HRs his rookie year in 395 PA. Slash line of .273/.344/.423. I'd be happy with something similar from Acuna.

Mike Trout had 30 HR and 49 SB in 639 PA (139 games) his rookie year at the same age as Acuna. Slash line of .326/.399/.564.

You guys would have laughed at anyone who said Trout would do that. Enscheff would have laughed mercilessly.

[nsacpi]

I take the under on .825 OPS for Acuna...who wants the over

[bravesfanMatt]

I take the under on .825 OPS for Acuna...who wants the over

SJ already has one. Mistake has one so I guess I will put my pozzie panties on and ponie up a sig bet. I want .825 or higher in 400+ PA.

[BeanieAntics]

Mike Trout had 30 HR and 49 SB in 639 PA (139 games) his rookie year at the same age as Acuna. Slash line of .326/.399/.564.

You guys would have laughed at anyone who said Trout would do that. Enscheff would have laughed mercilessly.

And he would have been right to do that. Anyone predicting Trout level success for a rookie is going to be wrong 99.99% of the time. And lets not forget that Trout did have 135 at bats the year before his official rookie season where he was less than impressive. .220/.281/.390 isn't what you think of when you think of Trout, but that is exactly what he did over his first 135 at bats. Can you imagine the meltdown on this board if that was Acuna's stat line by midseason?

[SJ24]

And he would have been right to do that. Anyone predicting Trout level success for a rookie is going to be wrong 99.99% of the time. And lets not forget that Trout did have 135 at bats the year before his official rookie season where he was less than impressive. .220/.281/.390 isn't what you think of when you think of Trout, but that is exactly what he did over his first 135 at bats. Can you imagine the meltdown on this board if that was Acuna's stat line by midseason?

Well, 99.99% of the time you're not dealing with the consensus top prospect like Ronald.

I know athletes. Baseball is a game that is increasingly becoming filled with non-athletic guys and that makes it easier for the true athletes to excel.

Darryl Strawberry hit 26 HR and swiped 21 bags as a 21-year-old rookie in his ROY season for the Mets. Hit only .257. 122 games.

It's not as outlandish as you guys are saying it is to extrapolate that to 30/30.

[GeorgiaGirl]

I'm a fan of Acuna's potential but comparing a guy to Trout just because of stats is absurd, then saying he's going to hit .300 (not sure that this was said here but it was said by Grey on a fantasy baseball site) or will go 30/30 is also ridiculous.

Look, he's likely to be on the upper echelon of 20 year olds in MLB, just unsure he'll be near the top for the modern day. I think his OPS is in the .770-800 range when he comes. He does have .300, .900+ potential but I do not see that coming in 2018.

[jimsnores]

And he would have been right to do that. Anyone predicting Trout level success for a rookie is going to be wrong 99.99% of the time. And lets not forget that Trout did have 135 at bats the year before his official rookie season where he was less than impressive. .220/.281/.390 isn't what you think of when you think of Trout, but that is exactly what he did over his first 135 at bats. Can you imagine the meltdown on this board if that was Acuna's stat line by midseason?

I didn't even remember that he'd gotten that (pretty big) cup of coffee the previous year. I hope Acuna does better than that, by miles, but to use a Bowmanism, that sure gives reason to believe an "adjustment period" is possible. It's not reasonable to expect him to be as good as Trout, but as thethe would say, embrace the fandom. It sure would be fun if he is even close.