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Washington Nationals: Daniel Murphy Our Player Of The Week Again

By Drew Douglas |
Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (20) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The Cardinals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (20) hits a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The Cardinals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

After being named District on Deck’s player of the week for the opening week of the 2017 season, Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy stayed red hot throughout the second week of the season.

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy has gotten off to an outstanding start to the 2017 season. At this point, nothing he does is really unbelievable. He followed up one of the greatest postseason performances of all time with one of the greatest offensive seasons in Nationals history last year.

Now, after not getting many reps all spring, he owns a slash line of .408/.420/.653 after 11 games.

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During this past week alone, Murphy went 9-for-28 at the plate, including a walk-off double on his own bobblehead day. In six games, he led the Nats in nearly all offensive statistical categories: hits (nine), doubles (three), homers (one), RBI’s (six), strikeouts (zero), total bases (15), and extra base hits (four).

In a week where the Nats scored 22 combined runs in two games and just nine in the other four, Murphy was one of the few consistent producers. He had hit safely in every game before going 0-for-4 in Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The best game of the week for Murphy, or any player for that matter, was Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went four-for-five at the plate, falling just a triple short of the cycle.

In this game alone, he had nine total bases, five RBI’s, and two runs scored. This was a phenomenal offensive performance, and it will undoubtedly be viewed as one of the best individual performances from any major leaguer at the season’s end.

After finishing second in last year’s National League MVP voting, Murphy is looking like an early favorite for the award. Although the season is still in its infancy, he currently ranks first in the NL in hits, second in batting average and doubles, and third in RBI’s.

After Sunday’s game against the Phillies, the Nats go on a tough ten-game road trip against the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies. With Trea Turner out and Rendon still working to find his swing, Murphy must continue to produce. While the Nats can’t expect him to go 4-for-5 every night, a hit or two on most nights will definitely go a long way, especially in the heart of this potent Nats lineup.

Murphy’s hot start has caught the eyes of his peers, but especially Shawn Kelley in particular.  Kelley even went so far as to say:

“That guy’s special.  I want to be like him when I get older.”  (h/t Mark Zuckerman, MASN Sports)

That’s high praise from someone who has played with the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro Suzuki, and Derek Jeter.

Next: Daniel Murphy Not Quite Wade Boggs

All signs pointed to Murphy getting off to a slow start to the 2017 season, but he has done just the opposite. He is truly a world-class hitter, and has gotten off to an incredible start. If he is able to maintain a similar level of performance throughout the year, he will end up with an all-time great season at the plate. It should be a lot of fun to watch Murphy produce in the heart of the Nats’ lineup.

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