Harper named September NL Rookie of the Month

Washington Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper was named National League Rookie of the Month for the second time this season Tuesday, a fitting cap to a regular season in which the 19-year-old guided the Nats to the franchise's first division title in a 162-game season.

Harper started in 27 of Washington's 28 games in the month of September, posting a .330 batting average (35 hits in 106 at-bats) and a .398 on-base percentage. Harper added 17 extra-base hits for a slugging percentage of .651 and an OPS of 1.049.

Harper had previously received the Rookie of the Month award for May, his first full month in the big leagues. In that period, he started all 28 games the Nats played, recording slash statistics (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage/OPS) of .271/.355/.505/.860. Harper also knocked 13 extra-base hits (including 4 home runs) and drove in 13 RBIs.

In all, Harper's slash statistics for this season are .270/.340/.477/.817.

Harper is one of the few Nats regulars in Davey Johnson's lineup for the second game of the season-ending three game series between the Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park.