Kris Bryant Wins National League MVP

It’s been nearly 20 years since the Chicago Cubs have had a player win the National League MVP award, but that streak came to an end on Thursday as third baseman Kris Bryant won the trophy in convincing fashion.

Bryant put together an incredible season as the Cubs posted the best record in baseball, clinched their first division title in nearly a decade and won their historic World Series. He is the team’s first MVP winner since 1998, when Sammy Sosa clubbed 66 home runs and led the Cubs to the National League wild card berth.

Bryant won 29 out of the 30 first-place votes for the award, and he became just the fourth player in MLB history to follow up a Rookie of the Year award with the MVP award, joining Cal Ripken Jr., Ryan Howard, and Dustin Pedroia in that exclusive club.

Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award last season, but he had an even better year in 2016. In 155 games, Bryant blasted 39 home runs and drove in 102 RBI, and he led the National League in runs scored with 121. He also elevated his batting average by 17 points and struck out 45 fewer times this season than he did in his rookie year.

Bryant also showed his defensive versatility by playing just about every position on the field this year, including time at first base, all three outfield positions, and even shortstop for an inning.

Washington Nationals infielder Daniel Murphy finished behind Bryant as he got the one first place vote that didn't go to the Cubs slugger. Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers finished in third place, taking home 11 second place votes.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo finished fourth in the balloting, with three second place votes to his credit, and shortstop Addison Russell (one sixth place vote) and pitcher Kyle Hendricks (one ninth place vote) each received votes in the balloting.

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