Fansided

Top 25 MLB batting seasons of all time

By Joshua Sadlock

American baseball player George Herman Ruth (1895 - 1948) known as 'Babe' Ruth. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
American baseball player George Herman Ruth (1895 - 1948) known as 'Babe' Ruth. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images) /
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May 14, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

13. Bryce Harper, 2015

  • The Numbers: .330/.460/.649, 42 homers, 118 runs, 124 walks

There have certainly been better seasons than Bryce Harper’s 2015 effort in MLB history. He did not set any records. Heck, he did not even drive in more than 100 runs. No, what is special about this season is the fact that Harper did it in his age-22 season.

The great Mickey Mantle, who Harper is often compared to and admires greatly, did not turn in a season with a slugging percentage above .600 until his age-23 season and did not post an OPS higher than Harper’s until his age-24 season.

Harper began the season slowly. He was batting only .245/.405/.457 on May 5 with five home runs. On May 6, Harper hit three home runs against the Miami Marlins, two more the next day, and one more the following day. By the end of that three-game stretch, Harper had hit six home runs and driven in 11. Over the final five months of the season, Harper batted .349/.473/.691 with a home run every 11.5 at-bats.

This year was all the more impressive due to the fact that most of the Nationals lineup struggled for the entire year. Harper had virtually no protection, and pitchers could pitch around him at will. He drew 124 walks, but punished almost every pitch that caught the plate. Harper struggled at times in 2016 while trying to deal with being pitched around. That slump is in the past now, and Harper is putting up the best numbers of his career in 2017.

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