Phillies Legend to Present the National League Most Valuable Player Award

In the midst of the offseason, the Phillies have two of their star players up for the two biggest awards in the MLB. Zack Wheeler is a finalist for NL Cy Young, which will be presented on Wednesday, November 17th on MLB Network by Orel Hershiser and Jack McDowell. Bryce Harper is a finalist, and the favorite, for National League MVP, which will be presented on Thursday, November 18th. 

Earlier this week, we heard the names of the presenters of these awards. Whether the NL MVP award presenter is foreshadowing or not, I do not know. But what I do know, is that former Phillie, Hall of Famer, and 3x MVP Mike Schmidt will be presenting the National League Most Valuable Player Award on Thursday night.

The best of the best.

Who will be the 2021 NL MVP? pic.twitter.com/2fnoEORGYo

— MLB (@MLB) November 9, 2021

Bryce Harper will be going up against Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres, and Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals for the MVP award. Harper’s phenomenal season with the Phillies has gotten much attention this offseason, winning a plethora of awards, all recognizing him for different parts of his game. 

Harper slashed .309/.429/.615 in 488 at-bats throughout the 2021 season, with 35 HRs, 84 RBIs, 151 hits, 13 stolen bases, all good for an OPS of 1.044, which led the National League. Bryce Harper has already taken home the Hank Aaron Award, Silver Slugger Award, 2021 NL Outstanding Player Award (Players Choice Awards, and is a finalist for the All-MLB team. 

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The National League MVP Award will be presented on November 18th on MLB Network, at 6:00 EST. Bryce Harper will be looking to collect his second career NL MVP, and *when* he wins, he’ll collect his trophy from Phillies legend Mike Schmidt. Is this a sign? I don’t know. I sure hope so. 

Regardless, the fact that we have to wait so long to find out the Cy Young and MVP Award winners is pretty ridiculous. There’s no reason it should be mid-November and we don’t have the winners yet. MLB needs to get things moving. Announce Bryce Harper, we’ll give away a bunch of MV3 shirts and a Bryce jersey, and then deal with the impending CBA lockout. Let’s get a move on.