From the Louisville Courier Journal:
Rick Sweet’s career as a manager launched the same time Ken Griffey Jr. made his minor league debut.
Sweet managed Griffey at the Seattle Mariners’ Single-A affiliate in Bellingham, Wash. Griffey was fresh out of high school in 1987 and didn’t turn 18 until after Bellingham completed its season.
snip…
“The only young player at 18-19 that I’ve seen that I would consider maybe a better player than Jay Bruce is Ken Griffey Jr.,” Sweet said. “I had Junior also at the same age. Jay Bruce is close to that category, if not at that category. Time will tell.”
High praise. Let’s hope that Jay can live up to it.