Nats’ Harped Named Unanimous NL MVP

He ranked among NL leaders in this season in OPS (2nd), RBI (2nd), times on base (2nd, 302), average (3rd), on-base percentage (3rd, .435), slugging percentage (3rd, .570), runs scored (3rd, 103), walks (3rd), hits (3rd), total bases (3rd, 323), home runs (5th) and extra-base hits (5th, 73). Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt finished second.

In September, Major League Baseball suspended him for two games with an option to appeal after he was ejected for the third time in the 2015 season, coincidentally all three times against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tonight, he was rewarded for his efforts with one of baseball’s most prestigious recognitions – the National League MVP Award.

Harper became the first member of the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise to win an MVP, and the first player from a team in Washington since Roger Peckinpaugh won the award for the American-League Washington Senators in 1925 under much different voting rules. “It’s such a pleasure to watch him play and we look forward to his future outstanding contributions to the team”.

“No player in history has produced 42 home runs and 124 walks in a season as young as Harper since Babe Ruth (54 and 150) did it in his age-25 season in 1920”.

About the only feat that Harper couldn’t pull off this year was leading the Nationals into the postseason.

In addition to his gaudy offensive totals, Harper, a runner-up for the Gold Glove Award, displayed his worth in the field. Harper is just the seventh unanimous NL victor of the MVP award, and the youngest ever to accomplish the feat. “There has never been a question about Bryce’s talent”.

Though the Washington Nationals’ season fell short of expectations, Harper did not as he led the majors in on-base percentage (.460), slugging (.649) and WAR (9.9). We are extremely proud. After the All-Star break, Votto hit.362/.535/.617 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI in 72 games.