National League Most Valuable Player Candidates So Far

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Jun 8, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts after a single against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

After two months of the season, the National League has been home to some of the game’s brightest stars. A few of them have risen to the front of the MVP discussion.

We have reached the point in the season where it is officially acceptable to start discussing potential MVP candidates.

Sure, there are always the way too early predictions, the preseason assumptions, and the completely wrong guesses. But, here we are, already in mid-June.

Some hot start’s have cooled down, while others have broke out in a big way.

Sustainability is key when it comes to the MVP discussion. If a player’s team makes the playoffs, their chances of capturing the award are significantly increased.

However, if they manage to produce all season without a postseason appearance, the award is typically not in their favor.

With this, let’s take a look at some of the candidates for this year’s NL MVP award, with some sleepers included.

Ryan Zimmerman

If it were 2009-2010, Ryan Zimmerman would surely be a regular on a list like this. The third baseman turned first baseman was one of the league’s best hitters. Since then, though, he’d been on the decline.

From 2011-2014, Zimmerman hovered around the .280 mark. However, as his age rose, his average and home run totals began to fall.

It’s 2017 and Zimmerman is hitting like never before. The 32-year-old is hitting a scorching .365 with a 1.105 OPS. He is sixth in the NL in RBI (49), third in doubles (19), and seventh in WAR (2.4).

Thanks to Daniel Murphy, one of the league’s best overall hitters, Zimmerman has been able to adapt to the league’s newfound look on analytics.

Zimmerman isn’t the flashiest name for the MVP award, so he may not be the top overall choice for the award itself. However, he is almost certainly a shoo-in for Comeback Player of the Year.

Whatever the case is, he’s been the most valuable player on a loaded Washington Nationals team.

Charlie Blackmon

In what has been a surprise year for the Colorado Rockies, Charlie Blackmon is no different. He’s been the leader on this team offensively, even if the headlines don’t talk about him much.

He’s currently the NL hits leader with 89, third in average (.337), and third in RBI (53).

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as Blackmon has been improving as he’s grown older. Now a 30-year-old, Blackmon saw himself put together his best offensive season of his career a season ago, where he finished 26th in MVP voting.

In 2017, he has the chance to finish much higher in voting, with a chance to take home the award.

Going in his favor is the success of his team, too. The Rockies sit atop the NL West with a sparkling record of 41-24. At this point, it’s fair to call them legit contenders.

Sure, the Los Angeles Dodgers are right behind them, but the Rockies seem primed for at the least, a wild card spot.

If the Rockies do indeed win the NL West, and Blackmon’s numbers stay up, he’s a legitimate threat to take home the award.

Marcell Ozuna

Before you say, “What?” to my selection of Marcell Ozuna, let me explain.

If the 26-year-old outfielder were on a better team in a bigger market, he’d be much more well-known and squarely in the conversation for the MVP award.

Despite the odds against him, Ozuna is in the MVP discussion.

Batting Average – 7th (.324)

RBI – 10th (tied 43)

SLG – 13th (.560)

HR – 10th (tied 15)

WAR – 9th (2.5)

Sure, he’s on a bad team that sits way out of the playoff race. There’s even the chance he might be traded.

Whatever the case is, he’s been one of the best players in the National League this season, and it’s hard to argue against that. He is a deep sleeper pick and will probably finish outside of the top-five in voting.

On a better team, he’s in the discussion on the national stage.

Bryce Harper

After a down 2015 season, it appears Bryce Harper is back for good.

The tough-nosed Harper is currently slashing .320/.428/.616 with 15 home run’s and an OPS of 1.044. He’s also totaled an OPS+ of 171 up to this point. In 2015 when he won the award, he led the league with a 198 OPS+.

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It’s not a stretch to say that Harper hasn’t even been the MVP of his own team, with sluggers Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy continuing to mash.

However, Harper and his 46 RBI figure to improve as the season goes on, as the 24-year-old is looking as determined as he ever has before.

With the Chicago Cubs in a slump, it’s safe to say that Harper knows its his team, the Rockies and the Dodgers in the race for the NL crown.

Expect Harper to put up big numbers as the season continues.

If he catches fire and the National’s cruise through the playoffs, a second MVP award could be in line for Harper.

Paul Goldschmidt

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has come oh so close to winning the MVP award, finishing twice in 2013 and 2015.

In 2017, he’s putting together another worthy season. With a slash line of .317/.444/.586 and a league leading 55 runs scored, Goldschmidt is again proving himself to be one of baseball’s best hitters.

His league leading .444 OBP is up do in part to his ridiculous walk rate, as he’s tallied 46 base on ball’s already.

Arizona, typically a bad team in the NL West, is surprisingly in the mix this season with a record of 39-26.

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Perhaps if Arizona makes it as a wild card team Goldschmidt might get more national attention.

An All-Star appearance is likely for the 29-year-old, and so is a top-10 finish in MVP voting. He’ll have to really assert himself if he wants to make a run at the award.

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