MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates thru May
Honorable Mentions
Daniel Murphy – WAS – .397/.428/.634, 29 R, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 1 SB, wRC+ 179, 2.0 WAR
The last second baseman to win any kind of MVP award in baseball was Boston’s Dustin Pedroia back in 2008. Right now, Murphy isn’t just the Nationals’ best hitter, he’s the best at his position in the league. Into June, he’s the only player right now seriously flirting with hitting .400 and his wRC+ of 179 ranks second in MLB. A career .294 hitter who has never went deep more than 14 times in a year, Murphy’s Law would suggest his numbers are going to deteriorate at some point.
Kris Bryant – CHC – .281/.368/.500-37-11-37-1, wRC+ 138, 1.9 WAR
2015’s NL ROY hasn’t skipped a beat transitioning from the offseason into 2016. Bryant has a well-to-do batting average when it comes to hitting for contact and the power is there too. He’s one of many Cubs lighting up box scores at the moment.
Dexter Fowler – CHC – .317/.434/.533-34-6-24-6, wRC+ 163, 2.5 WAR
Another Cub who is clearly the beneficiary of being surrounded by such incredible talent and coaching. Fowler has never made an All-Star Game or an appearance on an MVP ballot. He’s having a career year and if things persist, you can bet Chicago will want to pick up the $9MM mutual option on him for 2017 and consider it a bargain. But will Fowler choose to do the same?
Gregory Polanco – PIT – .310/.386/.556-38-8-36-7, wRC+ 156, 2.1 WAR
It’s not Andrew McCutchen buoying the Bucs right now, but Polanco who leads his team in a number of offensive statistical categories. Teammate Starling Marte is playing very well also and Pittsburgh is sitting pretty at 29-22, 6.5 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central and holding down the second Wild Card seed for the time being.
Marcell Ozuna – MIA – .333/.384/.579-34-10-27-0, wRC+ 160, 2.1 WAR
Ozuna is quietly having one of the greater bounce back seasons of the 21st century after a 2015 demotion to Triple-A. With Giancarlo Stanton not hitting for average and Christian Yelich missing multiple games due to back spasms, Ozuna has kept the Marlins afloat with his spectacular play.
Next: Number 5