MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates thru June

1. 3B Kris Bryant – CHC

.279/.369/.564, 62 R, 22 HR, 60 RBI, 2 SB, 146 wRC+, 3.8 WAR

Like his teammate Rizzo, Kris Bryant also had a superb June with 11 home runs, 23 RBI and posted an OPS of 1.058. Bryant strikes out a lot more than Rizzo, but his stroke has more raw power behind it and it’s showing with his NL leading home run total.

He’s not going to win a hitting triple crown due to a batting average that doesn’t look like it will break .300, but if Bryant can lead the NL in home runs and RBI like Arenado did last season while being an asset on defense for a team that wins a lot of ball games, he’s going to be the Cubs’ offensive MVP.

Unless someone comes from out of nowhere with a legendary July, Bryant has himself in a prime spot to be eligible for a lot of first place votes on the NL ballot.

Next: MLB's all-time Canadian-born team

If Bryant stays on his current trajectory and does indeed win the MVP, he will be the first big leaguer in the NL to follow up a Rookie of the Year award with an MVP the very next season since Ryan Howard completed the feat in 2005 and 2006, respectively.