Nationals slugger Juan Soto is an MVP finalist for the first time in his career.
Although he arguably should have been a finalist after the pandemic-shortened season in 2020, Soto was announced as an NL MVP finalist, along with Phillies slugger Bryce Harper and Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., on Monday night.
Soto faces stiff competition for the National League honor. These are the three finalists' credentials for 2021:
Juan Soto, RF, Nationals
Soto posted the second-best OPS (.999) of his career in 2021, second only to his astonishing 1.185 OPS in 2020, and led the National League in WAR (7.0). He also led the Majors with in walks (145), intentional walks (23) and on-base percentage (.465). The next-closest players in those categories in the NL were Bryce Harper (100 walks), Freddie Freeman (15 IBB) and Harper (.429 OBP). Soto was second in batting average (.313) only to Trea Turner (.328) in the NL.
With 29 homers, 20 doubles and 95 RBI on the season, Soto surged in the second half, reaching base in more than half of his plate appearances after the All-Star break (.525 OBP, batting .348 with 18 homers and a 1.164 OPS in his final 72 games. He also drew 87 walks in that span, a figure only five other hitters surpassed in the entire season.
Bryce Harper, RF, Phillies
Harper led Major League Baseball in slugging (.615) and OPS (1.044) while hitting 35 homers this season, 19 of which came during a scorching-hot streak from August on. Harper drove in 84 runs for the Phillies this season and led both leagues with 42 doubles. From Aug. 1 to the end of the season, Harper maintained a .330 average and a 1.194 OPS with 46 RBI in that 58-game stretch. He finished the season with a .309 average and .429 on-base percentage, drawing 100 walks on the season.
Harper is the only MVP finalist out of both leagues who has won the award before. He previously won NL MVP with the Nationals in 2015.
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres
Tatis led the National League with 42 home runs (fifth in the Majors) and finished third with 25 stolen bases (behind Trea Turner, 32; Tommy Edman, 30). He hit 31 doubles on the season with 97 RBI, while averaging .282 at the plate with a .364 OBP and .975 OPS. He finished second in the NL in WAR (6.5) behind Soto (7.0). The biggest knock on Tatis? He missed 32 games due to a recurring shoulder injury this season. Although, cut it another way and one could say he only needed 130 games to generate that type of production.
What makes this year's cast of finalists so compelling is that there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut frontrunner, even when judging by more traditional metrics (as baseball voters are wont to do). When looking at a combination of home runs, RBI and on-base percentage, no one candidate really blows you away.
Soto: 29 HRs, 95 RBI, .465 OBP
Harper: 35 HRs, 84 RBI, .429 OBP
Tatis: 42 HRs, 97 RBI, .368 OBP
To reduce the conversation down even further, not a single candidate played for a contender. The Nationals, Phillies and Padres all missed the playoffs by a considerable amount, so you really can't even make an argument for 'most valuable player... to his team's overall success.' Although the Nationals, at 65-97, were by far the worst of the bunch.
If the BBWAA members do their due diligence, this one should be a close call in the end, with whoever emerges the victor only separated from the others by a few votes.
And for that reason, Soto has a strong chance at winning this thing. Or, just as much of one as the others, anyhow.
An interesting side note: Soto, Tatis and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (American League) were all 22 years old for the duration of the regular season. This marks the first time in MLB history that three players that young have finished top-three in MVP voting in the same year, across both leagues.
Furthermore, Soto and Tatis are the first two players under the age of 23 to finish in the top-three in MVP voting in the same league, and in the same year.
Soto turned 23 on Oct. 25, three weeks after Washington's season ended.
As a reminder, postseason performance does not factor into Major League Baseball's end-of-year awards, as the Baseball Writers' Association of America — which is composed of the baseball scribes who cover MLB's 30 clubs on a regular basis — submits its votes after the conclusion of the regular season and prior to the start of the postseason.
The NL MVP award winner will be announced next Thursday, Nov. 18.
