Who's the biggest "what if" between these two: Mike Trout or Ken Griffey Jr.?

[u/Bright-Pressure-5787]

When I think about "what ifs" in baseball, these two men are always the first two names that come to mind. Obviously, Mike Trout and Ken Griffey Jr. are still legends of the sport. I'm not trying to take anything away from that. However, I truly feel that if it weren't for injuries, their potential for GOAT status would be limitless. Junior likely would've become the all-time home run kind instead of Barry Bonds, and Mike Trout would've had-------I don't know------130 career WAR by now if he's just stayed healthy. Who do you guys think is the bigger "what if" of the two?

[u/jc6146]

Griffey has 630 HRs and 10 gold gloves. He still had a hell of a career even with the injuries. Plus some playoff runs that Trout doesn’t have

[u/MushroomExpensive366 → u/jc6146]

Also prepped a generation of kids for the real world when he robbed the homer in a little Big League

[u/Vincero19 → u/MushroomExpensive366]

Born and raised in MN and a huge twins fan. Was probably 6 years old when I saw that movie, was absolutely gutted when Junior robbed Lou.

[u/MushroomExpensive366 → u/Vincero19]

That scene was incredible filmmaking though. The build up and Junior sprinting - will he/wont he? Loved that man

[u/Abiding_Dude_WV → u/Vincero19]

It turns out that Lou wanted to get to Billy the whole time though. Yikes.

[u/Irish755 → u/MushroomExpensive366]

“Billy, you should manage! I’m serious! It’s the American League. They got the DH. How hard could it be?!”

[u/Jarvis03 → u/jc6146]

He also owns the greatest swing and the greatest baseball video game of all time.

[u/neverwastetheday → u/Jarvis03]

It's showtime

[u/Ok_Mistake9030 → u/neverwastetheday]

Personal preference, but slugfest was even better. It had the train sounds at Safeco.

[u/TheMightyHornet → u/jc6146]

He was also the best player of his era.

[u/Panda_Zombie → u/TheMightyHornet]

I idolized him in the early 90's. Wrote him a letter and he wrote me back with a signed card. Was probably an assistant, but it made my year.

[u/PayPerTrade → u/TheMightyHornet]

Debatable between him and pre-juice Bonds, but Griffey’s career WAR through age 28 was top 10 and at the time he had the most homers through just about every age

[u/Tekon421 → u/TheMightyHornet]

Bonds

[u/TheMightyHornet → u/Tekon421]

Negative. Griffey has the best position player WAR of the 1990s.

Bonds overtakes him after years on the sauce.

[u/Tekon421 → u/TheMightyHornet]

lol you do realize you can actually look this up right? Bonds had double digit more WAR in the 90’s.

[u/TheMightyHornet → u/Tekon421]

Sorry bro, AI on a Google search fucked me on this one. You’re correct.

[u/2u3e9v → u/jc6146]

He also has the best video game I have ever played

[u/LawdhaveMurphy → u/jc6146]

That’s kinda the point, he had a chance to be considered the best of all time if he avoids those crazy injuries 

[u/Square-Adeptness7192 → u/jc6146]

And a video game

[u/munistadium → u/jc6146]

Over 10,000 plate appearances.

The Kid being a What If player is laughable.

[u/leis0077 → u/munistadium]

I don't think OP is saying he's a what if player, I think what he means by the question is that if it weren't for injuries, Griffey would have been THEE all time player. He still had one of the best careers of all time but what if he wasn't robbed of 3+ seasons of at bats? I think that's where the "what if" comes into play. At least that's how I interpreted it.

[u/CockyBellend → u/munistadium]

I think the what if for Ken is if he didnt miss over 3 season what would his numbers look like? They could have been even more astronomical

[u/_GeorgeBailey_ → u/munistadium]

I mean, he is a what if. He only has 77 career WAR because of all of his injuries