Phillies legend says Bryce Harper has ‘Great’ NL MVP chances

Phillies hits leader Jimmy Rollins likes Bryce Harper’s NL MVP Award chances.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is having the kind of second-half run that most fans — and even the organization itself — envisioned would one day happen when he signed his record-breaking contract in March 2019.

Since the All-Star Break (as of August 8), Harper has slashed .370/.516/.740 with 12 doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI, five stolen bases, 21 walks, and just 14 strikeouts spanning 23 games and 95 plate appearances. The Phillies have won 15 of these games, and are undefeated so far in August alone — with Harper producing an impressive 1.256 OPS.

Harper has elevated himself to near or at the top of National League MVP Award consideration, and deservingly so. Fourteen years ago, another Phillies player made a similar second-half push that ultimately landed him the prestigious award — as well as snapped the team’s lengthy postseason drought since the 1993 season. This player, franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins, thinks there is a “great possibility” that Harper could earn his second career MVP honors in 2021.

On Phillies Postgame Live on Friday evening, Rollins told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann that Harper “definitely” has an advantage playing on the east coast. The franchise hits leader added that if Harper just continues to do what he does —having a part in the Phillies closing out and winning games with big, timely, clutch hits, that’s how he will win the MVP award.

“[It is] the Most Valuable Player. Not Most Outstanding, but the value that you added to your team in the league you carried your team along the way. He’s done it before. It shouldn’t be a surprise, but it would be a great time for him to get his second one.

Harper’s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth against the New York Mets on Friday proved to be timely, as Ian Kennedy would surrender a solo home run the next half-inning. Without Harper’s home run, the game would have gone into extra innings — where with the new “ghost runner” format, anything could have happened.

Now slashing .302/.413/.570 on the season, Harper is putting up numbers that almost single-handedly could give the Phillies the necessary wins they need to make the postseason for the first time in a decade. With about 50 games to go, the best is yet to come for the 10-year veteran.