Another piece of hardware to add to the collection. Just moments ago, MLB Network and the Phillies announced that Bryce Harper has won the NL Hank Aaron Award for his outstanding offensive performance throughout the 2021 season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr of the Toronto Blue Jays will be taking home the award for the American League.

The Hank Aaron Award was founded in 1999, the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking the home-run record that was previously held by Babe Ruth. Each year, the NL and AL choose one recipient that showcases the best offensive performance throughout the entire season.

Bryce Harper had one of the greatest seasons that I have personally ever seen from a Phillies player. He crushed a line of .309/.429/.615 with 35 HRs, 84 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, 151 hits, and 101 runs scored in 2021 with an OPS of 1.044. Harper had a 5.9 WAR on the season, which is one of the highest in all of the major leagues.

It’s crazy to think that Harper’s stats could have been even better if he would have never been hit in the face with a 98 mph fastball, which sidelined him for a few weeks. It was a miracle that he wasn’t seriously injured, and although his offensive game did dip at a point in time throughout the season, that didn’t let it affect his overall game.

He’s now taking home the NL Hank Aaron Award for the second time in his career, the first coming in 2015. 2015 was also the year that Bryce Harper won the NL MVP, so hey, let’s hope that happens again. Harper will also become the second Phillies player to win the Hank Aaron Award, the first being Ryan Howard in 2006. Just this season, Harper has now locked down the Hank Aaron Award, The Musial Award, the NL Outstanding Player Award at the Players Choice Awards, and was just recently nominated a finalist for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

Stay tuned for November 18th, the night that NL MVP will be announced. Harper will be going up against Juan Soto of the Nationals, and Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres for the award. But for now, Bryce Harper just keeps stacking up his trophies, as he officially wins the 2021 NL Hank Aaron Award for the second time in his career.

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