The Big Unit and Felix

The Big Unit and King Felix

The Seattle Mariners have been known for drafting or acquiring young prodigies. Guys like Ken Griffey Jr, and Alex Rodriguez, two of the greatest players to ever step onto the field. But there are two players who stand out from the bunch not just for their size, but for their skills on the pitchers mound: Randy Johnson and Felix Hernandez. One of these pitchers is a nineteen year veteran of the game and the other is a 21- year old, third year starter. Though they are two completely unalike people, it is their differences and similarities that lead sports fans to believe that Felix Hernandez can potentially hit the level of success that Randy Johnson has had in his professional career.
There are staggering amounts of statistics that separate the two pitchers right off the bat. Randy Johnson has been in the league for 19 years and has compiled 280 wins, is a nine-time league strikeout leader, World Series MVP, and to put the cherry on the top, is a five time Cy Young Award winner. Felix, on the other hand, has been in the league for three years and has not yet won a major pitching award. Though Felix hasn’t won any form of an award, he did however, rank up in the top five in the American League in strikeouts in 2005, with 176. Even Johnson didn’t win an award until his 5th season in the big leagues when he was named the American League strike out leader.
More than the lop-sided amount of awards and statistics produced between the two segregate them as well. Felix Hernandez only spent three seasons in the minor leagues before being called up to pitch for the Mariners in 2005 but Randy spent almost five years in the minors before he got the call to come up and pitch for the Montreal Expos. Johnson was 24 years of age when he became a starter in the majors; however, Felix was only 18 years old when he made his first start in the big leagues. Felix was also only an astonishing 15 years old when he was signed by the Mariners in his native country of Venezuela.
Though their age and their career statistics separate the two men like night and day, both share very similar characteristics that make them impressively similar to each other at the beginning of their careers. In 1988, Johnson was called up midway through the season to start for the Expos and in his first and only four starts of the season, Johnson went 3-0 with a 2.42 earned run average. In 2005, Felix made his Major League debut and was also called up midway through the struggling Mariners season. In twelve games started, Hernandez outmatched Johnson’s first season win total with 4wins, along with 4 losses, mainly due to the lack of run support. He also put up a 2.67 earned run average, just a hair above Johnson’s. . It wasn’t until their second season that their stats reflected each others even more. In 28 games started, Johnson went 7-13 with a not- so- hot earned run average of 4.82. The young Felix had 31 starts and went 12-14, with a 4.52 earned run average, this time just a hair below Johnsons.

Though their statistics at the beginning of their careers match up like a person looking at themselves in the mirror, there are further ways to compare King Felix and The Big Unit. At 6’10 and 230 pounds, Johnson used his size and appearance to intimidate his opponents. At 6’3 and 225 pounds, Felix also utilizes his size to scare away batter. The two also use their size for something else too. Fresh into the league and well into his prime, Johnson used his size to throw fastballs that clocked in over 100 mph and consistently threw and still does throw in the upper 90’s. Felix as well uses his large body to put smoke on his fastballs and consistently throws his heat in the upper 90’s and on occasion will break 100 mph.
This essay is mainly about how the two pitchers were congruent and incomparable from each other throughout there careers, the main point is to compare a young up and coming star in baseball to one of the greatest pitchers to ever step foot on the mound. It is all the similarities and differences of the two that will allow the young Felix to be just under, the same as, or even better than the highly regarded Johnson.