Kris Bryant, Cubs

The 24-year-old third baseman won the National League rookie of the year award last season and has followed that by becoming a strong contender for NL MVP. Bryant was hitting .300 with 31 home runs and a .957 on-base-plus-slugging percentage through Sunday. His 99 runs led the league, and he was second in the NL in home runs. Bryant is the first player in major league history to twice go 5-for-5 with multiple homers in a game in the same season — he did it June 27 against the Reds (with three homers) and Aug. 18 vs. the Brewers (two homers).