MLB: Top NL MVP Candidates of the First Half

Nolan Arenado broke onto the scene two years ago with his impressive play defensively combined with his ability at the plate. He’s been a consistent hitter since his 2014 sophomore season in the Majors, and 2016 has been no different for the young star.

He’s flashed the leather this season, just as he has in every other professional season; his defense is one of his greatest assets on the hot corner. I prefer to avoid defensive stats because they are so uncertain, but Arenado’s reputation proceeds him. It is well-known among scouts, writers, and fans that he knows how to handle himself in the field. In case you need more tangible proof, here’s a highlight from this week in which Arenado made a very difficult play look pretty easy.

Not only is Arenado’s glove plus plus, he knows how to handle the bat incredibly well too. His first half numbers compare well to any of the guys on this list. In 2016 he is hitting .290/.363/.577 with 23 home runs and 70 driven in. Those numbers are very good for the first half of the season, on pace to get over 40 home runs and 100 RBI.

If you prefer advanced metrics, those love Arenado as well. His ISO is one of the best in the league at .287 while his wOBA sits at .391. He has one of the weakest wRC+ of the guys on this list, but it is still a very good 128. He’s also striking out at a low rate (13.7%) while walking at a pretty good quip (10.0%).

Arenado has been stellar defensively as he has his entire career. At the plate, he has patience and good vision which leads to his excellence on base percentage. He’s hitting home runs and driving in runs while limiting his strikeouts, which is incredibly valuable.

Next: Defending Champion