MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates thru April
By Gavin Lee
5. Anthony Rizzo – CHC
.218/.384/.577, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 1.0 fWAR
The Cubs are leading the baseball world after a 17-5 month of April with All-Star performances at seemingly every position. Anthony Rizzo is a big part of what makes this lineup so dangerous and he is a serious contender to take home the MVP hardware this season.
After receiving MVP votes the last two years, Rizzo currently ranks in the top five for home runs, runs batted in, walks, and isolated slugging, all while suffering from a league-worst .161 BABIP. His .218 average makes him hard to even put into the top five, but while he’s striking out at an all-time low and still doing considerable damage with the balls that do find holes (or seats), he is set for a monster season.
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The Cubs’ lineup will keep giving him RBI opportunities and with a team that is surely destined for the playoffs, Rizzo will be the most valuable hitter to take them there. When Theo Epstein brought him back from the Padres after moving front offices, this is exactly the type of player he hoped Rizzo would turn into. He’s one of the best pure hitters in baseball right now, full stop.
His defense at first has turned into an asset for him as well and he’s only 26-years-old. As the Cubs try to get over the hump and win their first world series in over 100 years, Rizzo looks like the superstar to take them there.
Next: Number 4