Harper winner of Hank Aaron Award

If the opinions of baseball fans and players are credible indicators, Bryce Harper is looking very good for a National League Most Valuable Player Award.

On Tuesday, Harper was named as the winner of the 2021 NL Hank Aaron Award, by vote of players and fans alike. Harper, the Phillies’ star right-fielder, slashed .309/.429/.615 in 141 games and 599 plate appearances last season.

Harper led the majors with a 1.044 OPS, and had 101 runs scored, 100 walks, 42 doubles and 35 home runs. He’s just the fourth player in history with at least 100 runs, 100 walks, 40 doubles and 35 home runs in a season. The other three on that list were only Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds and Stan Musial.

Harper, 29, is a finalist for NL MVP, which he won while with Washington in 2015. Harper also won the Hank Aaron Award that year, which is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league.

The award was created in 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. Harper is the second Phillie to win the award, Ryan Howard doing so in 2006.

“Hank was one of the titans of this sport and one of the most honorable people to play this great game,” Harper said in a statement. “To win the award that bears his name for a second time is truly humbling and I am honored.”

Harper, Bonds, Albert Pujols and Giancarlo Stanton are the only multiple winners of the Hank Aaron Award among National League players.

“Bryce is a baseball historian and a true student of the game,” Phils managing partner John Middleton said in a statement. “It is undoubtedly an incredible honor for him to win the award that bears Hank Aaron’s name. I’m thrilled for Bryce as his extraordinary 2021 season continues to be recognized with awards, particularly one as special as this one.”