Nationals' Bryce Harper unanimous choice as 2015 NL MVP
Harper earned the trophy after putting together an historically great season in 2015. He was a unanimous choice.
By
Dayn Perry
•
1 min read
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been named National League MVP for 2015. MLB revealed the results of the BBWAA balloting on Thursday, and Harper was the unanimous choice.
This year, Harper, 23, batted .330/.460/.649 (195 OPS+) with 42 homers in 153 games for the second-place Nats. As well, Harper led the majors in OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+, and he led the National League in home runs and runs scored. Add up all facets of his value, and his 9.9 WAR leads the majors. Harper’s aforementioned OPS+ of 195 is the highest such mark since Barry Bonds put up an OPS+ of 263 in 2004.
Harper becomes just the 13th player to win an MVP at age 23 or younger. The last to do it was Mike Trout in 2014. It hasn’t been done in the NL since Johnny Bench of the Reds in 1970. As well, this is the first time a player from the Nationals/Expos franchise has won the MVP.
Harper’s Nationals of course missed out on the postseason, but, as previously noted in this space, giving the MVP to a player on a non-playoff team is entirely in keeping with the definition of the award.
In the 2015 balloting, Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks finished second, and Joey Votto of the Reds placed third.
