Bryce Harper named NL MVP finalist
Bryce Harper took another step towards winning his second National League MVP Monday, being named a finalist for the senior circuit’s top honor.
Harper is joined by his former Washington Nationals teammate Juan Soto and San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. as finalists for the award.
In his third season with the Phillies, Harper slashed .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs, 84 RBIs, 100 walks, a 1.044 OPS and a 6.6 fWAR. Harper — who recently turned 29 — has already been named the National League Player’s Choice Most Outstanding Player and been announced as a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award among National League right fielders.
“Bryce’s 2021 season was one of the greatest in our franchise’s history,” Phillies managing partner John Middleton said in late October. “He put up incredible offensive numbers especially down the stretch, when he started each of the team’s final 72 games. To be selected by his peers and awarded with the 2021 MLBPA NL Outstanding Player Award is one of baseball’s highest honors and only further validates his accomplishments this season. In addition to his on-field success, highlighted by his selection as a Silver Slugger finalist, Bryce is a special person off the field, which is why he is also being honored with this year’s Stan Musial Award. When we first signed Bryce, we knew we were getting one of the best in the game. We couldn’t be happier to have him in Phillies pinstripes as he continues to leave his indelible mark on this great sport.”
Harper won his first MVP in 2015, when he was playing for the Nationals. If he were to win the award again this year, he’d become the 32nd player in league history to win multiple MVP awards.
The last Phillie to win the National League MVP Award was Jimmy Rollins in 2007. Like Harper in 2021, Rollins wasn’t selected to the All-Star Game in his MVP season, only to have a monster second half and put himself in position to win the award.
In addition to Rollins, Harper would join Chuck Klein, Jim Konstanty, Mike Schmidt (three times) and Ryan Howard as players to win the National League MVP while playing for the Phillies.
The winner of the National League MVP Award — which has already been determined — will be announced on Nov. 18.
Earlier in the night, Harper’s teammate, Zack Wheeler, was named one of the three finalists for the National League Cy Young Award.
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