Sports: A Game Of Inches: Bryce Harper

For those of you who actually watch baseball games, as opposed to simply checking daily box scores and transaction wire for your fantasy team, can appreciate that every baseball player has a unique style to his game. This is most apparent in his(or her) baseball swing. Scouts often drool over a high school kid with a sweat stroke. Maybe the most famous of those kids was Ken Griffey Jr. who had the smoothest, most effortless power swing in baseball history. The Cubs recently spent the 3rd overall draft pick on high school prospect Josh Vitters for having a "pretty right-handed swing". One player on my list of top 5 pretty swings was a former number 1 selection out of high school. Although it has been shown over and over that a players swing or physique cannot determine major league success, it is undeniable that some baseball players have an advantage over others based on the force, flexibility, or torque they can produce. It is generally accepted that the best batting average hitters in baseball history have been left handed swings. Lefty bats appear to be more fluid and pleasing to the eye, so it should be no surprise that my top 5 list consists of all lefties.

5) Carlos Gonzalez (CarGo)

When I think of Carlos Gonzalez, I imagine the incredible extension and torque that he is able to generate with his body. As a result the ball generates incredible back spin allowing it to carry further and further over the fence. For a player that isn't incredibly tall or strong, he can hit it with the big boys as his 413 foot homer average this year shows.

4) Bryce Harper

Yeah, I know he's not even in the major leagues right now and may not be for another 3 years. But we have a thing called youtube and Bryce Harper may have the fastest hip rotation of anyone in baseball today. He was the unanimous number pick in last Mondays MLB draft. He is praised for having one of the fastest bat swings in recorded history. From Sports Illustrated, "Still only 16, Harper stands 6'3", weighs 205 pounds, has faster bat speed than Mark McGwire in his prime and runs so fast that he scored on wild pitches six times this season from second base."

3) Adrian Gonzalez

Adrian Gonzalez was a first overall selection of the Marlins out of high school in 2000 and was described as having a perfect swing. I remember the first home run I saw him hit for the Texas Rangers. His effortless swing reminded me of Rafael Palmeiro, except it was smoother and more variable. The Rangers, who already had an All-Star first baseman in Mark Teixeira decided to give Gonzalez to the Padres for Adam Eaton. Since getting the starting position in San Diego, Gonzalez has become one of the most desirable young players in the game. DME showed us the true greatness of Agon if had played in Fenway instead of Petco Park last year.

2) Chase Utley

Utley's swing can be described as the opposite of Carlos Gonzalez. Instead of using a large wind up and extending every limb of his body to generate torque, Utley instead uses a very short, abbreviated swing to generate his force. With almost no follow through, Utley must have incredibly strong hands to produce the force to hit 8 home runs in a single playoffs.

1) Robinson Cano

I made a bold prediction that Cano was going to win the MVP award this season based solely on the beauty of his swing. When I watch Cano hit, I feel like i'm in the 1950's watching the great players of yesteryear. He is able to generate even more back spin on the ball than CarGo, except there is much less movement and uncertainty in his swing. He is able to turn on the inside pitch, while smacking line drives to the opposite field.

Such that we don't discriminate against right handed swings, my list would include: Miguel Cabrera, Evan Longoria, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Zimmerman

Lets not forget the sweetest swing of all

If your a baseball fan you should already know the name Bryce Harper. He is a top baseball prospect that I mentioned in July. Harper is a catcher and third basemen and can also pitch. As a hitter he has monster homeruns over 500 feet and as a pitcher he has been clocked at 96mph. He decided to finish high school early to start his baseball career. He just received his GED in December 2009 and is going to take classes at the College of Southern Nevada. He will play baseball in the spring of 2010 for them. This will make him eligible for the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. You can read all about Bryce Harper’s potential at Yahoo Sports.

Here is a video to see him in action: