Harper's hype, not his play has him atop the NL Rookie of the Year race.

Bryce Harper is young, very young.

Bryce Harper is talented, very talented.

Bryce Harper plays hard, very hard.

Bryce Harper is not having the best season of the National League rookies.

Don't let hype effect reality, Harper is one of the most hyped players in Major League Baseball history, a guy who made the All-Star team before he turned 20 years old. But in reality he shouldn't have been there. Through the middle of August Harper has had a good rookie season, a season that could have won him a Rookie of the Year award in many other seasons, unfortunately for Harper there are a few others having better seasons.

Harper wasn't the only rookie to make the NL All-Star team, he was joined by Arizona Diamondbacks' 25-year-old righty Wade Miley. Miley has gone 13-8 with a 2.96 ERA in his first full season in the major leagues. However, his Diamondbacks are beginning to fall off the playoff pace, which could hurt his candidacy.

The NL boasts a few other up-and-coming stars in Norichika Aoki, a Japanese star now playing in the outfield for the Milwaukee Brewers and hitting .281.

Yonder Alonzo, first basemen for the San Diego Padres who has slugged 32 doubles and drove in 42 runs while hitting .273 thus far.

Wilin Rosario, the catcher for the Colorado Rockies who is only batting .247 but has hammered a NL rookie leading 19 HRs, while driving in 49.

And lastly two Cincinnati Reds that have helped put the Reds on the top of the NL Central. First Zack Cozart, whose solid defensive play at shortstop has been key for arguably the best defensive team in the NL. Cozart has struggled at times at the plate hitting only .248, but has shown pop (13 HRs, 29 doubles).

Secondly, and most importantly for the Reds, 26-year-old utility player Todd Frazier. Frazier wasn't called up until April 19th and hasn't stopped hitting since then. The Reds have suffered injuries to veteran third baseman Scott Rolen and MVP candidate first basemen Joey Votto, but while these two stars were hurt the Reds haven't missed a beat. Most of the credit for that should be given to Frazier who has batted .286/.344/.545 while slugging 16 HRs and a NL rookie high 51 RBIs.

Bryce Harper does have a case to be made though, he has 11 HRs, 39 RBIs and is hitting .249/.325/.406. But when you put Harper's numbers next to Frazier and consider Frazier has hit 5 more HRs and driven in 12 more teammates and only 8 less hits while stepping to the plate almost 100 times less than Harper this season, then it becomes clear that Frazier is having a more impressive season. Harper may be a more impressive story due to his age and Harper will likely have a more impressive career, but so far Frazier has gotten the best of Harper, not only on the stat line, but also with the furthest HR (heck, he even hit one with one hand).