MLB Awards Watch: Dexter Fowler is having himself a season

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Apr 24, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler (left) acknowledges the crowd after the Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-0 at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

Dexter Fowler, OF Chicago Cubs – It would be tough to see an MVP emerging with the power pace that Fowler is currently displaying. He has only three home runs in mid-May, and even with a more than unacceptable .543 slugging percentage, much of that is buoyed by a .429 BABIP. Still, Fowler has been incredible, walking 15.4% of the time on the way to a .449 on-base percentage and playing top-shelf defense in the outfield. No one believes that Fowler will keep this pace all season, but he is a very, very good player on the best team in baseball.
Nolan Arenado, 3B Colorado Rockies – Think about this. The “knock” on Arenado’s candidacy is that he “only” has a .374 on-base percentage right now. The powerful third baseman leads the NL in home runs (13) while scoring 30 runs, but Arenado brings a ton of value defensively as one of the best defensive infielders in MLB. He sometimes toils in obscurity by nature of playing for the Rockies, but Nolan Arenado is a legitimate superstar talent that is playing on that level this season.
Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals – With all due respect to Daniel Murphy (who happens to be hitting .400 in mid-May), Harper is the best and most valuable player on the Nationals. His batting average (.265) may be enough to worry some people, but Harper is walking 25.9% (!) of the time to post a .456 on-base percentage, and with 11 home runs and six stolen bases, he is the complete package. Sorry, Daniel.

Next: AL MVP

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