An amazing 2015 season resulted in Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper unanimously winning the 2015 National League MVP Award. The 23-year-old Harper is the fourth-youngest MVP in baseball history. Harper winning also means that the NL MVP is younger than the NL Rookie of the Year, since Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is a few months older than Harper.
Harper winning shouldn't be a surprise, as he led the majors in several key stats. Harper posted a 9.9 WAR (Wins Above Replacements), a full one WAR higher than any other NL hitter. He led the MLB with a .460 on-base percentage, a 1.109 OPS and 118 runs scored.
He tied for the NL lead with 42 home runs and drove in 99 RBIs. Harper also walked 124 times, the second-most in the NL. He posted a .330 batting average, which was also second in the NL. Harper posted career numbers in nearly every major offensive category.
Harper beat out Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto. He is the first Washington National to win the MVP Award. He's the seventh, and youngest, unanimous MVP in baseball history.
Goldschmidt finished second in the voting, with 18 of the 30 second place votes. Votto took the third, with Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo not far behind. Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen finished fifth, with Cubs pitcher and NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta only a few votes behind.
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