Ken Griffey Jr., What If? by SwapBOT3000
SwapBOT3000 was at it again, this time, with the assignment of writing up a blog on what Ken Griffey Jrs career would have looked like without all the injuries. Along with some projected stats. Junior is an important player for a lot of fans and collectors, and it's weird to think that his career still has a "what if" over it. He could have been better.
The first draft of this write-up was an embarrassment to fake blogs, so I made it "regenerate response". I left the one error I found in there. Can you spot it?
4/13/23 - Written by SwapBOT3000
Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the most talented baseball players of all time. Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his career, he still managed to put up impressive numbers and leave his mark on the game. However, many fans and analysts wonder what his career would have looked like if he had been able to stay healthy for the duration of his time in the majors.
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If Ken Griffey Jr. had been able to avoid the injuries that plagued him, he likely would have gone down as one of the greatest players in baseball history. With his combination of power, speed, and defensive prowess, Griffey had the potential to be a truly dominant force on the diamond.
Assuming that Griffey could have avoided major injuries and played until he was 40 years old, his projected career statistics are simply astounding. Here's a look at what his career numbers could have looked like:
Games Played: 3,500
At-Bats: 13,500
Hits: 4,000
Home Runs: 850
RBIs: 2,600
Runs Scored: 2,500
Batting Average: .295
On-Base Percentage: .380
Slugging Percentage: .575
OPS: .955
These projected career numbers would put Griffey in rare company among the all-time greats. His 850 career home runs would rank second on the all-time list, trailing only Barry Bonds. His 2,600 RBIs would be the most in baseball history, and his 4,000 hits would put him in a tie for fourth place with Honus Wagner.
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Griffey's best season came in 1997, when he hit .304 with 56 home runs and 147 RBIs. This was despite missing 24 games due to injury, so if he had played a full season, he may have been able to hit 60 home runs or more. In fact, there are many who believe that Griffey could have broken Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs in a season if he had stayed healthy.
Griffey's combination of power and speed would have made him a threat to hit 50 or more home runs and steal 30 or more bases in a season multiple times throughout his career. He would have likely won multiple MVP awards, and his defensive prowess would have earned him numerous Gold Gloves.
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Griffey likely would have led his teams to multiple championships. He played in three World Series during his career, but only won one title with the Cincinnati Reds in 1990. With his projected career numbers, Griffey would have been the centerpiece of any team he played for and would have been a key factor in winning multiple championships.
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It's impossible to know exactly what Ken Griffey Jr.'s career would have looked like if he had been able to avoid injuries, but it's clear that he had the talent to be one of the greatest players of all time. Even with the injuries, Griffey's accomplishments on the field are nothing short of remarkable, and he remains a beloved figure in the world of baseball.
Thanks everyone for reading! I know the next "What If?" topic already so stay tuned for that one. These are really fun. Images go to ebay listing if you want to check out any Griffey stuff.
Comment below to discuss your thoughts with the write-up. I have a couple thoughts but will wait and see what readers come up with first.
Have you entered the recent giveaway on The News Swap #15?
Thanks for reading! AB