Three Young Home Run Hitters - Harper, Machado, Soto

197.	Steve Garvey (19)	272	9466	R	HR Log
	Bryce Harper (11, 29)	272	5593	L	HR Log
	Andrew McCutchen (14, 35)	272	7698	R	HR Log

222. Roy Campanella+ (18) 259 5656 R HR Log

  Chase Utley          (16) 259 7863 L HR Log

224. Manny Machado (11, 29) 258 5747 R HR Log

225. Ian Kinsler           (14) 257 8299 R HR Log

226. Bob Allison          (13) 256 5924 R HR Log

  Larry Parrish        (15) 256 7451 R HR Log

  Vada Pinson      (18) 256 10405 L HR Log

909.	Earl Battey (13)	104	4105	R	HR Log
	Jackie Bradley Jr. (10, 32)	104	3796	L	HR Log
	Ivan Calderon (10)	104	3672	R	HR Log
	Jorge Cantu (8)	104	3395	R	HR Log
	Kal Daniels (7)	104	2739	L	HR Log
	Ryan Doumit (10)	104	3407	B	HR Log
	Luke Easter (8)	104	2355	L	HR Log
	Jacoby Ellsbury (11)	104	5375	L	HR Log
	Granny Hamner (17)	104	6293	R	HR Log
	Mitch Haniger (6, 31)	104	2226	R	HR Log
	David Murphy (10)	104	3847	L	HR Log
	Xavier Nady (12)	104	3241	R	HR Log
	Jim Piersall (17)	104	6593	R	HR Log
	Placido Polanco (16)	104	7887	R	HR Log
	John Roseboro (14)	104	5529	L	HR Log
	Juan Soto (5, 23)	104	2127	L	HR Log
	Franklin Stubbs (10)	104	2899	L	HR Log
	Jim Tabor (9)	104	4136	R	HR Log
	Trea Turner (8, 29)	104	3126	R	HR Log

    29 years-old is young in the scheme of things, but in major league baseball it might be the age when one is at the peak of a player's career. Some guys in their somewhat young 30s are trending down in production, while a few elite players are productive into their 40s.

    The best all time players are able to play well for at least 20 years, but there are some exceptions of some who played very well in shorter time spans. The amazing pitcher for the Dodgers in the 1960s comes to mind, Sandy Koufax, or the rounded phenom Kirby Puckett for the Twins in the 1980s and 1990s. They did not enjoy longevity of dominance as performers, but they dominated so well while they worked.

    The three players featured in this comparison are all expected to play for twenty good decades. It will be interesting to see if any of them make it to their 40s in the league in good health. It would be fun.

Bryce is up to 272 homers, tied for 197 all time, with 5,593 plate appearances.

Manny Machado, also 29, has now reached 258 all time homers, tied for 224 in the top home run hitters of all time. All this in only 5,747 plate appearances. Bryce is doing better.

Soto, is only at 104 career home runs, but he is only 23 years old, with a mere 2, 127.

All three have bright futures, perhaps Juan the best among them since his batting average is the highest. He has the highest ceiling, but all three are superior talents.

Harper career BA and OBP:      .279 & .390

Machado career BA and OBP:  .282 & .340

Soto career BA and OBP:         .299 & .430

If Soto can maintain these high numbers, he has a chance at surpassing the older younger "great" guys, who look to play another decade each, both locked into very lucrative contracts for many years.

I am surprised that Machado has such low OBP career numbers, but so far in about 100 at bats this 2022 season he is off to a tremendous start, hitting a red hot .382 with a .458 on base percentage. Maybe his career is just taking off. Pretty good for a third baseman, former short stop.

The designated hitter upgrade of the National League should favor all three.

I expect all three to make it to 500 career homers. And the Hall of Fame.