Fansided

MLB awards watch: Bryce Harper rolls toward MVP

By John Buhler

May 29, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 9, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Third Place

American League

3

Aaron Judge

RF, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees may not be all the way back to being a juggernaut, but at least they have an emerging star in right field. Rookie Aaron Judge has taken the league by storm. He is both humble and a massive human being at six-foot-seven. Judge has been key in the Yankees having a 30-19 record through 49 games.

On the year, Judge is hitting .319/.419/.687 with 17 home runs and 35 runs batted in. He has scored 38 runs for the Yankees and already has a 2.9 WAR on the year. Not only is Judge in line to win AL Rookie of the Year, he could be a serious AL MVP candidate if he keeps it up offensively. He is making the Yankees relevant and that matters.

National League

3

Ryan Zimmerman

1B, Washington Nationals

Though the NL East is pretty terrible right about now, we can’t overlook how dominant the Washington Nationals have been in that division. Washington needs to reach the NLCS this year, without question. However, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has had a renaissance year for Washington at the plate.

The first star in the nation’s capital’s third try at professional baseball is hitting .374/.413/.707 in Washington’s first 51 games. Zimmerman has 14 home runs, 40 runs batted in, scored 33 runs and boasts a WAR of 2.1. He has been huge on why Washington has such a commanding lead in the NL East at 32-19.

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