Bryce Harper named NL Rookie of the Month for second time

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that outfielder Bryce Harper has been named National Rookie of the Month for the month of September. It was the second time Harper has won the honor this season, also taking home the distinction in May. Harper hits .330 (35-for-106) in 28 games in September, with seven homers, 26 runs, 69 total bases, a .651 slugging percentage, seven doubles, three triples, four stolen bases and 14 RBIs. His 26 runs scored was tops in the majors and he was second in the National League in slugging percentage and total bases. The seven homers and 35 hits were the best of any NL rookies. For the season, Harper is hitting .270 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs. Manager Davey Johnson singled out Harper as one of the reasons this team will be able to continue hitting in the postseason because of the way the rookie has connected this last 31 days. "Everybody in the lineup has been swinging pretty good," Johnson said. "Harper has been swinging good, (Ryan) Zimmerman, all of them have been swinging good. We have had the pedal to the metal until today, so we are ready for the next phase." It really has been the case this last month, even when the team might have slowed for a few innings to get a hit, Harper has delivered. He also has done a very good job of stretching doubles into triples and getting home on groundouts that most players would not even chance. His hustle defensively has gotten him back to balls he might have lost when turning the wrong way initially. Harper just has the athletic ability and talent to make plays and really deserves the NL Rookie of the Year award when it's handed down.