DANIEL MURPHY 2016
When the Nats signed Daniel Murphy away from the New York Mets prior to 2015, some considered the move a small coup in a tight division. By October, Murphy became a household name in Washington.
Although a late-season hamstring injury cost him the batting title, Murphy’s hitting was sensational. A true student in the art and science of batting, his .347 was his highest average in five years. His 47 doubles led the league, earning him a runner-up behind Kris Bryant in the MVP race.
Murphy slugged a career-high 25 home runs and 104 RBI. His .985 OPS led the league. He terrorized the Dodgers in the NLDS hitting .438 with 6 RBI.
Those above numbers alone are worthy of a slide here. When you consider what he did to his old friends in Queens? That takes you into another dimension.
Murphy hit safely in all 19 games against New York, a trick never done by a player versus an old team. In 81 plate appearances, he torched them for a .413/.444/.773 slash line. An OPS of 1.218! He pounded the Mets for six doubles, seven homers and a stunning 21 RBI. Overall, he went 31-for-75.
He followed it up with another Silver Slugger and .322 average in 2017. But, Murphy’s legacy forever belongs to Washington with an opening act for the ages.