MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates through June
By Josh Sippie
5. Giancarlo Stanton
Jun 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Stanton leads the known world in home runs. Remember how all the hype surrounding Stanton was how far he could hit the ball? The same is still coming true. After an on-and-off beginning to the season, Stanton absolutely demolished in June. In fact, he demolished so hard, he broke into the MVP talk.
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Stanton currently leads the league in home runs with 27 and is tied for second in RBIs with 67. His average is at a steady .265 and while that may not seem MVP-worthy, it rose .020 points in the past month. He also has the third highest OPS in the National League.
Those stats in and of themselves are enough to put Stanton in the MVP talk, but when you consider how much he means to the Miami Marlins and any potential success they are to have, his value grows immensely. Stanton is the primary driving force in that lineup and without him, the Marlins would be in a far worse state than they currently are.
Next: Number 4