If Trout is a five tool player why isn't harper?

by Bososx13 on Mar 6, 2026 9:40 PM EST

This was a great question brought up in the BA top 100 podcast. I think Harper's speed is his worst tool, and it's comparable to Trout's power and power is much more important than speed so Harper gets the edge there. Harper put up a 5.5 speed score. The major league average is 4.4. Harper per minorleaguecentral.com put up a 25% LD% in A ball. People are questioning his hit tool, but I would give it a 65 or a 70.

I would grade Trout like this

Power 60

Speed 80

Defense 75

Arm 60

Contact 70

I would grade Harper like this

Power 80

Speed 60

Defense 60

Arm 80

Contact 65

That adds up to the same OFP and both are above average in every category.

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Typically when people use the term 5-tool they don't mean those tools.

Or, at least not in the generalized sense, but a more specific one.

Hitting for average
Hitting for power
Baserunning skills / speed
Throwing ability
Fielding ability

I don’t know how scouts determine such a thing, but if I had to guess, I would say that it isn’t based on a numerical rating so much as an observational feeling. So they probably miss a few here and there. I also think that a lot of this 5-tool thing is based on physical traits more than anything else. Body type, athleticism, etc. Harper looks like a masher; more rounded upper body. Trout looks like an all around athlete type frame.

Obviously this doesn’t mean they’re 80s across the board. But if I had to pick a cutoff, I’d say that it’s 65 or 70 across the board. If you figure that 20 is the floor and 50 is average then 60 is above average while 70 is really good and 80 is stellar.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Mar 6, 2026 9:59 PM EST reply actions

Agreed on the 5 tools

I’m not sure they go by the 30 to 80 scale. My guess is they use

Hitting for average - 300 hitter or better
Hitting for power - 20+ HRs per year
Baserunning - 20+ steals
Throwing - not sure, maybe the scout grading? Or a combo of strength and accuracy?
Fielding - definitely scouting grade

Harper has questions on the hit for average, base running. Obviously he has the power and throwing. His fielding might also be questionable from a five tool aspect as well.

Trout easily has the hitting for average, fielding, base running. He has some questions on power but I think they are going away. The only real question is his throwing which he has worked on in the off season and which he may never have as a five tool.

by pedrophile on Mar 7, 2026 10:26 AM EST up reply actions

It’s a 20-80 scale.

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 7, 2026 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

Is this the Johnny Damon rule?

It would be fun knowing which players actually have a 20 rating.

Damon for his arm.
Jose Molina for his baserunning/speed.
Victor Martinez for his fielding - when at 1B.
quite a few SS for hit for power.
Adam Dunn last year for hit for average.

by pedrophile on Mar 7, 2026 8:14 PM EST up reply actions

It is my professional opinion

that they will both be very good.

by Arlo Brunsberg's Swing on Mar 6, 2026 10:46 PM EST reply actions

Just a question

But has the 5-tool player tag really been placed on Trout more than it has been on Harper? If so, by what group of people?

by CaptainCanuck on Mar 6, 2026 11:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

don't think Trout is considered "5-tool" or "7-skill"

due to the questions about how his power will develop. I don’t see him hitting more than 20 in any one year, but everything else will be, well, badass.

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Mar 7, 2026 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

For one thing, no one considers Bryce Harper to have anything near a 65 hit tool.

More like 55-60

by PissedMick on Mar 7, 2026 4:13 PM EST reply actions

Even more questionable, have you seen anybody that rates him as a 60 runner? Especially a future 60 runner?

My son, Adalberto Mejia. He's got the goods - he just needs a cool nickname.

"There ain’t much to being a ballplayer, if you’re a ballplayer." - Honus Wagner

by Fla-Giant on Mar 7, 2026 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Is he a 55 current and future 45? That would be my guess.

I expect Harper only had the throw and hit for power tools. But his other tools all rate as solid to above average.

by pedrophile on Mar 7, 2026 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

Its just terminology

It is meaningless in every sense. It is not well defined or consistent used. It has no future bearing…

It seems to have a lot to do with the speed and arm tools though. Nobody develops plus speed or arm. You can put whatever projections you like on hit or power because it is projection. I could project Yunieski Betancout to hit 40 HR this year, but that likely won’t happen. Nobody ever thought Bautista would hit 40. I can’t really project Jim Thome to steal 40 bases though…

by huztler on Mar 7, 2026 10:27 PM EST reply actions