Windy City Whippersnapper Leads the Charge

By KYLE KEOUGH
DOUBLE DAY DAILY

As last year's reigning AAA Most Valuable Player, it comes as no surprise that 23-year-old Harvey Herndon has been immediately successful in the Majors. Still, Windy City fans can't help but feel swept away by the Whales' young whippersnapper.

In most other seasons, Herndon would be the top contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award. He'll likely be bested by Tampa Bay Seminole uber-prospect Lefty Moore in that department, but the young Elston, Wisconsin native still has plenty to be proud of.

With the Whales (81-69) surging late in the season and now deadlocked with incumbent playoff team Toledo (81-69) for the second wild-card spot, it is center fielder Herndon who is leading the charge for the upstart Whales. In Herndon, Chicago has perhaps uncovered its star for the future.

Herndon hit .349 with 45 HR and 147 RBI in a mere 128 games last season as part of Chicago's AAA club, and he captured the MVP award for his efforts. This season, Herndon has cemented himself as Chicago's team-leader in runs scored (109) and has posted a .277 average with 35 HR, 107 RBI, and 15 SB to go along with that. His statline is among the most complete for National League center fielders, and perhaps for center fielders period.

Alongside sluggers Skeet Gallagher (38 HR, 112 RBI) and Derek McDermott (39 HR, 103 RBI), Herndon has taken to the Windy City quickly, and the adjustment to major-league pitching has been a smooth one. The Whales haven't seen the postseason since season one, when they went 89-73 and won the division title.

A second birth for the franchise might be in the cards, provided Chicago's young star continues to mature and play well down the home stretch of the season.