The Philadelphia Phillies are having a special season and are being recognized accordingly.
First baseman Bryce Harper was named National League Player of the Month and his teammate Cristopher Sánchez was named National League Pitcher of the Month for the month of June. This is Harper’s second consecutive month earning this honor.
Both Harper and Sánchez are having incredible seasons. Harper is one of the favorites to win the NL MVP whereas Sánchez is making a case for himself to be named the NL Cy Young.
The two-time MVP, Harper, is slashing .303/.399/.582 with a .981 OPS, 20 home runs, 58 RBI and 40 extra base hits. He was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain alongside Kyle Schwarber after a 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins on June 27, but he’s making good progress and could return prior to the All-Star break.
Not only has Harper been named as the back-to-back NL Player of the Month in May and June, but he also was the NL leading vote-getter for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game automatically earning the starting first base position.
Sánchez, on the other hand, is having a breakout year with the Phillies. The 27-year-old is 6-3 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.189 WHIP with only one home run allowed in 16 starts this season prior to his July 4 start against the Chicago Cubs. The left-hander pitched in six games in the month of June owning a 3-0 record, including a complete game shutout in a 2-0 victory against the Marlins on June 28.
This is only the second time in franchise history that the Phillies have both the NL Player of the Month and the NL Pitcher of the Month in the same month since Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton in 1980. Harper and Sánchez joined elite company with these honors.
This Phillies team is dominant and exciting. The club has the chance to have more players earn these honors throughout the rest of the season joining Harper, Sánchez and Ranger Suárez who was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for April.
Although, it’s safe to say that this team has their eyes set on something bigger than monthly awards.
PHOTO: MLB.com
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