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Washington Nationals News: Daniel Murphy named NL Player of the Month, Trea Turner could be called up

By Pablo Roa

Jun 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (20) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (20) fields a ground ball during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Today’s District Daily discusses Daniel Murphy earning NL Player of the Month honors and the possibility of Trea Turner being called up with Ryan Zimmerman likely going on the paternity list.

Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.

In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Cash Kruth discusses Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy being named the National League Player of the Month for May. Murphy, who has been the Nationals’ most important player this season, leads the league in several offensive categories.

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As Kruth notes, Murphy paces all of baseball with a .394 batting average. That average was even higher in the month of May, when he slashed .416/.424/.673 with seven homers and 23 RBIs.

Since last year’s NL MVP Bryce Harper has slumped over the last month, Murphy has carried the Nationals’ offense and he’s a big reason the team remains in first place in the NL East. The Nationals have now secured both NL Player of the Month Awards this season, with Harper bringing home the honors in April and Murphy in May.

Hopefully for the Nationals, Murphy can continue to lead the offense throughout the summer and down the stretch. We can’t expect the veteran second baseman to maintain his current level of production, but based on what we’ve seen so far this year, there’s no doubt Murphy could be in for an MVP-caliber season if he stays healthy and productive.

Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s James Wagner discusses the possibility of Trea Turner earning his second big league call-up this weekend. As Wagner notes, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman is likely headed to the paternity list with his wife, Heather, expected to deliver their second child soon.

While the team has not made any formal announcements, Turner was not in Triple-A Syracuse’s starting lineup tonight, which suggests he’s a likely candidate to be called up when Zimmerman lands on the paternity list.

As Wagner notes, Zimmerman can be on the paternity list for up to three days. It’ll be interesting to see how long he stays with the big league club, and how much (or if) they play him while he’s with the team.

Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.

Murphy earns NL Player of the Month honors for May

(Cash Kruth, MLB.com)

Daniel Murphy‘s hot hitting has earned the Nationals second baseman National League Player of the Month honors for May.

Murphy, who leads the Majors in hitting at .394, batted .416/.424/.673 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 29 games in May. He led all Major Leaguers in batting average for the month, and he ranked 12th in on-base percentage. Read full article here.

Ryan Zimmerman likely headed to paternity list. Trea Turner call up coming soon?

(James Wagner, Washington Post)

Ryan Zimmerman is likely headed to the paternity list, perhaps as soon as Friday, meaning the Nationals would likely call up shortstop prospect Trea Turner, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. Turner, an everyday player, was not in Class AAA Syracuse’s starting lineup Thursday and, in fact, wasn’t even with the team.

The Nationals were off Thursday and begin a three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati beginning Friday. The Nationals haven’t announced any moves, and it is unclear when the team will.

Next: Washington Nationals May 2016 Month In Review

Zimmerman’s wife, Heather, is due with the couple’s second child soon. A paternity list stint can last up to three days. So in the meantime, Turner could be expected to serve as potential infield insurance. Read full article here.

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