The Washington Nationals are excited about their first-round draft pick Elijah Green. The Nats selected Green with the fifth overall pick on Sunday out of IMG Academy in Florida. Green is widely considered a five-tool player.
Nationals assistant GM Kris Kline sang the same praises of Green.
Green, himself, understands his skill set and his bodes the confidence needed to be a five-tool player. Speaking with Nationals media for the first time, Green made a lofty comparison of himself to Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.
“I kinda compare myself to Mike Trout because I feel like we can kinda do it all the same way,” Green said, per Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington. “We both go get the baseball… we have good arms, we both hit for power, we hit for contact and all that stuff.”
Green has great pedigree. His father, Eric Green, was a two-time Pro Bowl tight end in the NFL. Green stands 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. He has the range and speed of a center fielder. He has the strength to hit with power. He also can put the bat on the ball for contact.
With development, he certainly has the ability to be a centerpiece of a franchise. Throw in last year’s first-round pick Brady House, and the Nationals have to be giddy about their future 3-4 hitters.
With all that said, comparing himself to Trout without seeing a MLB pitch is quite lofty. Trout is a three-time AL MVP. He is the highest-paid player in baseball with a $426 million, 12-year deal. And it’s for good reason.
Green’s comments are sure to put a target on his back as he grows in the Nationals’ system. But there is no doubt he has a great chance of backing up his talk.
