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Bryce Harper was named the youngest unanimous MVP in baseball history tonight. Washington's 23-year-old, 2010 no.1 overall pick, who was 22 until after the regular season ended, earned the National League's Most Valuable Player Award after a 2015 campaign in which he led NL hitters in On-Base Percentage (.460), Slugging Percentage(.649), Wins Above Replacement (9.5 fWAR), Weighted On-Base Average (.461 wOBA), Weighted Runs Created Plus (198 wRC+) and runs scored (118), while finishing tied for first in home runs (42), and coming up second in walks (124), and Batting Average (.330).
"The entire Lerner family extends congratulations to Bryce on his well-deserved Most Valuable Player award and his tremendous, record-setting season," Nats' Managing Principal Owner Theodore N. Lerner said in a press release following the announcement that Harper received the award.
"It’s such a pleasure to watch him play and we look forward to his future outstanding contributions to the team."
"What a remarkable achievement for Bryce, to become the first Nationals or Expos player ever to earn the Most Valuable Player award," Nationals' GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo said.
"There has never been a question about Bryce’s talent. It’s transcendent. And to watch him put together the type of historic season he did in 2015 – at age 22 – only heightens the excitement for what remains ahead of him. We are extremely proud.
"I also want to congratulate Bryce’s family, as well as our entire organization - including Bryce’s teammates, coaches, support staff, and scouting and player development – for the role they all played in helping Bryce earn this distinguished honor."
Harper thanked his teammates and the entire organization as well when he appeared on the MLB Network tonight.
"Having the support of all my teammates and the front office, Mike Rizzo, Mr. Lerner, all the guys that have given me the opportunity to play the game, it's just been a great year for me," Harper said.
Nationals' slugger Bryce Harper named 2015 NL MVP
Photo © Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports
He also thanked now-former Nationals' manager Matt Williams.
"Matt Williams helped me out every single day, with swinging, with approach, he was unbelievably smart with that process and I give him a lot of credit," Harper said.
"And just my whole team, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be in this spot, this situation and I give them a lot of credit."
"Being able to have guys, Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth, the two guys that pushed me all year, pushed me last year, have done things for me that I couldn't imagine my teammates doing for me and I can't thank them enough, can't thank Scott Boras, Mike Rizzo, Mr. Lerner, for them just giving me the opportunity to play the game every single day and my fans in D.C., you guys are the best fans in the world, and I'm truly grateful for you guys, thank you so much."