Aug 31, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) fields a groundball during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Phillies’ regular season MVP is a tight race but one name stands above the rest
After the 2024 campaign, many players can make a case for this honor, but there can only be one true MVP for this season.
It’s good to be a fan of a team that when asked the question, “Which player did the best during the regular season?” you have a grand variety of options to choose from. In the 2024 regular season for the Philadelphia Phillies, there are a lot of players who came through in a big way.
Phillies’ regular season MVP is a tight race but one name stands above the rest
Trea Turner, at one point of the season, led the league in batting average, coming a long way from his pre-standing ovation performance. Bryce Harper is, well, Bryce Harper, hitting personal milestones every couple weeks and making the most diving plays at first base in the league. Some bullpen pieces you can even consider, like Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman, both named All Stars this year and becoming two of the best relief pitchers in the league.
But when it comes down to it, there can only be one true winner for this accolade. Before we reveal the Phillies’ regular season MVP, let’s break down two of the honorable mentions, or finalists, for this award, as both of these players put on an amazing performance on the field.
Zack Wheeler deserves consideration for Phillies’ MVP
Starting with Zach Wheeler, a Cy Young finalist again and, based on Chris Sale ending his season early, looking to be the award winner, he has continued to prove why he is the No. 1 in the rotation for the Phillies. Leading the National League in WHIP, pitching the most innings out of the Cy Young finalists, and tied for second in the league with Dylan Cease and one under Sale for most strikeouts.
Ever since acquiring him as a free agent, whenever he goes out onto the mound and does his signature wind-up, you feel at ease knowing a lot of the batters he faces are going to go down swinging, looking, or become outs in the field. And this season, it was a lot of the same. His ERA and WHIP were the lowest of his career. He also led over Sale in opponents batting average, on-base percentage and OPS.
A case can be made for Alec Bohm as the Phillies’ MVP
What more can you ask for from a Phillies player? Look no further than third baseman and first-time All-Star Alec Bohm. For the majority of the season, the young infielder could not stop hitting, specifically doubles. Bohm ended with 44 doubles on the season, one under Bobby Witt Jr. and Ezequiel Tovar for third place. Bohm also had 97 RBI, tying his career high from last season, had two more hits than last year, and tied his career-high with a .280 batting average.
Seeing where he came from after his fielding blunders against the Mets and “hating this place,” it’s nothing short of inspiring to see where he is now. One of the things many fans wanted from Bohm was to lift the ball and increase his power, and while it may have just translated to more consistent hitting, Bohm made it to the semifinals of the Home Run Derby, losing to the eventual winner Teoscar Hernandez. But he is not the top player for the Phillies this season.
Nick Castellanos is the Phillies’ regular season MVP
The Phillies’ regular season MVP deserves it the most for proving to the fans, and himself, that he can be the player he was signed onto the team for. The right fielder who played all 162 games of the season for the Phillies: Nick Castellanos.
