Bryce Harper claims second straight NL Player of the Week honors

What does Bryce Harper do for an encore? How about winning a second consecutive National League Player of the Week award?

Harper's hot streak continued through a swing through Phoenix and San Diego, and as a result, the 22-year-old Nationals right fielder has become just the 10th player to take back-to-back Player of the Week honors since the inception of the award in 1974.

The last to turn the trick was Philadelphia's Domonic Brown in 2013. The other members of the consecutive winners club are Pittsburgh's Andew McCutchen and Los Angeles' Matt Kemp (2012), Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki (2010), New York's Jose Reyes and Pittsburgh's Jason Bay (2006), Houston's Jeff Bagwell (1994), San Diego's Tony Gwynn (1988) and Pittsburgh's Jason Thompson (1982).

Harper went 12-for-23 (.522) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and nine RBIs last week. He drew nine walks, scored 10 runs and stole two bases. During the binge, he had a .656 on-base percentage and a 1.087 slugging percentage.

May has been very good for Harper, who is hitting .411 with a .529 OPB and .982 slugging percentage during the month. He now leads the major leagues in runs (36), RBIs (37), walks (36), on-base percentage (.476), slugging percentage (.729) and OPS (1.206). Harper leads the NL in home runs (14) and intentional walks (five).

In 11 games since May 6, Harper is 22-for-39 (.564) with 22 RBIs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other player in the last 75 seasons to compile a batting average over .550 with at least 22 RBIs in an 11-game span during a single season was Rockies outfielder Larry Walker. Walker, who hit .571 with 22 RBIs during 11 games in April 1997, was the first to turn the trick since Rudy York (.556, 26 RBIs) did it for the Tigers in September 1940.

This marks the 13th time that a Nationals player has won Player of the Week honors. Harper joins right-hander Jordan Zimmermann twice and first baseman Adam LaRoche and outfielder Jayson Werth once each (2014); third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (2007, 2011, 2012); right-hander Stephen Strasburg (2010); outfielder Josh Willingham (2009); shortstop Cristian Guzman (2008) and first baseman Nick Johnson (2005) as honorees.