For second time in a row, Bryce Harper named National League Player of the Week

Slugger Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 17th, marking his second consecutive weekly honor. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

Harper led the National League in hitting (.522) slugging (1.087) and on-base percentage (.656) last week and was tied for the lead in RBI (9). The outfielder's three homers and 12 hits both ranked T-2nd in the N.L. while his 10 runs scored, 25 total bases and nine walks were tops among all Major Leaguers. The two-time N.L. All-Star's hot bat helped the Nationals go 5-2 on their seven-game road trip that included a three-game series in Arizona and a four-game set at San Diego. On Sunday, Harper notched his 15th multi-hit game of the 2015 campaign, going 3-for-4 with his league-leading 14th home run in a 10-5 victory over the Padres. He collected four RBI in the contest, giving him a Major League-best 37 RBI this season. The Nevada native collected three hits in Friday's matchup between the two Clubs, including a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, on the way to a 10-0 win. Harper tied a career high (also: 5/4/2012 at PHI) by drawing three walks in Thursday's contest in San Diego. The 22-year-old slugger drew at least one free pass in every game last week and currently leads the Major Leagues with 36 walks this year. This is the second career Player of the Week honor, having won for back-to-back weeks (also: 5/4-5/10).

Harper joins Domonic Brown (2013, PHI), Andrew McCutchen (2012, PIT), Matt Kemp (2012, LAD), Troy Tulowitzki (2010, COL), Jose Reyes (2006, NYM), Jason Bay (2006, PIT), Jeff Bagwell (1994, HOU), Tony Gwynn (1988, SD)and Jason Thompson (1982, PIT) as the only players to win the N.L. Player of the Week consecutively since the Award's inception in 1974.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Harper's Washington teammates Denard Span (.462, 5R, 12 H, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, .483 OBP) and Max Scherzer (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 17 SO, 14.0 IP); San Francisco's Brandon Belt (.370, 9 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .778 SLG); Chicago's Kris Bryant (.455, 6 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .955 SLG); Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison (.480, 7 R, 12 H, 2 HR, .840 SLG, .519 OBP) and A.J. Burnett (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 12 SO, 14.0 IP); Arizona's Chris Owings (.500, 6 R, 13 H, .500 OBP); Atlanta's Shelby Miller (1-0, 0.56 ERA, 12 SO, 16.0 IP); and Philadelphia's Jonathan Papelbon (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SV, 4 SO, 3.2 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Bryce Harper will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.