Editorials

The Most Valuable Player Race Taking Place Inside the NLCS

The National League Most Valuable Player race between Kris Bryant and Corey Seager is at full swing in the NLCS. As I mention these two names, I think this series will make fans go crazy and I think you don’t even have to be a Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers fan. These teams have history in each end of the spectrum, however; Bryant and Seager are just adding to the magic.

[graphiq id=”1fcomOZTvq5″ title=”Kris Bryant vs Corey Seager” width=”600″ height=”603″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/1fcomOZTvq5″ link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

It came as a surprise to many that Corey Seager, 22, from Charlotte, NC, was in MVP race discussions. His numbers escalated quickly while building a name for himself in the city of Los Angeles.



He is the top pick for the NL Rookie of the Year award, but he has had consistent numbers to be a candidate for the MVP award.

NLCS Positional Preview – Who Has The Advantage: Cubs or Dodgers?

Despite slumping in the postseason so far, Seager has just started his career and people tend to forgot about that. If he does not receive the Most Valuable Player award, it doesn’t change the fact that he had a phenomenal 2016 season.

Throughout the season, he has had great numbers against left-handed pitchers and has hit the ball up the middle with fluidity. No one can forget the terrific fielding he has out there in short.

Take a look at his 2016 regular season numbers:

G AB R H HR RBI BA OBP SLG
Corey Seager 157 627 105 193 26 72 0.308 0.365 0.512

If there is a split tie between Bryant and another player, Seager could possibly sneak into first.

The two other players that Seager could possibly join by winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP award:

  • Fred Lynn of the 1975 Boston Red Sox
  • Ichiro Suzuki of the 2011 Seattle Mariners
[graphiq id=”lfs6WKFALSB” title=”Corey Seager Postseason Profile” width=”600″ height=”605″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/lfs6WKFALSB” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/18836/Corey-Seager” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

Bryant leads the NL in runs but has accomplished much more. He was second place in the RBI category, behind Colorado’s Nolan Arenado. Bryant is a utility player and that is something not a lot of people have that much production in that kind of player.

At the end of August, Bryant was leading the NL in home runs, batting over .300, and reaching for over 100 RBI, so he was a shoo-in for the MVP race.

Bryant’s 2016 regular season numbers:

G AB R H HR RBI BA OBP SLG
Kris Bryant 155 603 121 176 39 102 0.292 0.385 0.554

Bryant’s postseason numbers have been leaps and bounds better than Seager’s, so the rookie shortstop will have to start contributing to be even close to Bryant in the MVP race.

His versatility also takes me up a couple of levels higher than the rest of the National League players. If he wins the MVP award, the Las Vegas native will make history to become the first utility player win such an award.

[graphiq id=”iL5oOyr5zIF” title=”Kris Bryant Postseason Profile” width=”600″ height=”663″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/iL5oOyr5zIF” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/18579/Kris-Bryant” link_text=”PointAfter | Graphiq” ]

Both players need one more accolade to become MVP, a World Series championship and the ring that people chase after. This series may determine who will receive the MVP award.

Other NL players that have been apart of the MVP race:

  • Daniel Murphy
  • Nolan Arenado
  • Anthony Rizzo

Dodgers Nation TV:

6 Comments

  1. Uh, MVP voting is done BEFORE postseason play. How they do in the postseason has no impact on winning the MVP.

  2. Why does this article cite postseason numbers? The MVP award is voted on at the conclusion of the regular season.

  3. And please stop calling Bryant a utility player. That usually refers to a bench player who can fill in at any position.

    Bryant is their third baseman, who was put in LF on occasion due to Schwarber’s injury.

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