Over the next few weeks RealGMBaseball will be holding our 2014 Major League Baseball 'Be The GM' Contest to determine which player would be the best selection to build a franchise around.

The contest, which is being brought to you by the Original Retro Brand, is described and previewed here: RealGM's 2014 'Be The GM' Contest. You'll want to check out the link for rules on how to enter to win a $50 Retro Brand gift card and to see the full contest schedule.

George Springer of the Houston Astros and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels are featured in Friday's matchup. Voting will extend through the end of the first round.

Springer has only logged 114 plate appearances since being called up a month ago. The eleventh overall pick in 2011, the outfielder is hitting .231/.298/.356 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. As you'd expect from someone with so little Major League experience, Springer has struggled with plate discipline. He has 42 strikeouts and just nine walks.

The UConn product was rated as a Top 50 prospect prior to the 2013 season and Baseball Prospectus ranked him No. 20 heading into this year. He hit .353/.459/.647 in 61 plates appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City early on, leading the Astros to promote him less than a month into the season. In a season split between Oklahoma City and Double-A Corpus Christi last year, Springer hit .303/.411/.600 with 37 home runs, 108 RBIs and 45 stolen bases in 589 plate appearances.

Mike Trout is the early favorite to be the last man standing in our 'Be The GM' contest.  Drafted five years ago by the Angels in the first round, he is already building a Hall of Fame resume. He has hit .309/.399/.541 in 375 games and ranked first in the American League in WAR in each of the last two seasons.

It's easy to forget that Trout, 22, is still among the youngest players in the game. The 2012 AL Rookie of the Year, he has finished second to Miguel Cabrera in the MVP voting two years running. If you rank all active players in WAR, Trout is 90th despite completing just two full seasons. He's already ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury, who has played in the Major Leagues twice as long.

Vote In This Matchup: May 16: Springer vs. Trout?

Previous Matchups:

May 14: Perez or Gibson?

May 12: Kipnis or Cabrera?

May 9: Lawrie or Sale?

May 7: Tanaka or Longoria?

May 5: Machado or Bogaerts?

Next Matchup: May 19 – Sonny Gray vs. Felix Hernandez

Don’t forget to Tweet your pick along with #BeTheGM to be entered to win a $50 Retro Brand gift card.