John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce Harper Named 2021 MLBPA NL Outstanding Player
Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper has been named the 2021 National League Outstanding Player in the Players Choice Awards.
Harper's 2021 season, fueled by a historic second half, prompted his candidacy for the award. It was one of, if not the, best seasons of Harper's career, and by far his best as a member of the Phillies.
Harper was a key offensive piece for the Phillies in 2021, leading the team in batting average, hits, home runs, RBI, and slugging percentage, despite dealing with injuries that saw him out for a bulk of games in May and June.
Harper's slashline of .309/.429/.615 with 35 home runs, 42 doubles, and a major league-leading 1.044 OPS earned him the award for the second time in his career, his first coming in his 2015 MVP season with the Washington Nationals.
Harper also led the majors in doubles, slugging percentage, and OPS+.
Beyond the stats, Harper secured the award because of his impact in Philadelphia's lineup night after night. He was a force to be reckoned with in the second half, and had it not been for his outstanding numbers and leadership, the Phillies would have been eliminated from playoff contention much sooner.
Harper is also nominated for a NL Silver Slugger award, which will be announced on Nov. 11, and the NL MVP award, announced on Nov. 18. Congratulations and good luck, Bryce!
Deputy Editor Lauren Amour contributed to this article.
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