Bryant, 24, followed his sensational rookie season by leading the NL in runs (121) plus setting career highs in home runs (39) and RBIs (102). Twenty players have won the top rookie honors and been named MVP, but Bryant could join Dustin Pedroia (2007-08), Ryan Howard (2005-06), and Cal Ripken Jr. (1982-83) as the only players to win the awards in back-to-back seasons.
The other NL MVP finalists this year are the Nationals' Daniel Murphy and the Dodgers' Corey Seager.