Kris Bryant has not turned 25 and won awards the last three seasons as the top college, minor-league and rookie player. He was selected to the All-Star team in his first two major-league seasons. He helped win a World Series for a team that hadn't seen a title in 108 years.

And Thursday, the Cubs star added the latest honor to the list: National League MVP.

Bryant received 29 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America to top Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy and Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. Angels center fielder Mike Trout was voted the American League MVP over Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts and Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.

“It's all downhill from here,” Bryant joked on a conference call after learning of his honor. “This year has certainly been one of the best years of my life, winning the World Series, and now this is just icing on the cake. I look forward to really enjoying this offseason because I don't know if this year will ever happen to me (again).”

It has been quite a ride since Bryant smiled as he fielded Michael Martinez's grounder and threw to first base for the final out of Game 7 of the World Series two weeks ago.

He rode in a World Series parade he said made him realize “how huge this win was for the city and the fans.” He made the rounds on the talk-show circuit. And he opened boxes and boxes of pre-wedding gifts from Cubs fans.

But winning the game's top individual honor by a margin of 415 to 245 points over Murphy was also pretty special.

Bryant is the first Cub to win the award since Sammy Sosa in 1998. It is the 11th time a Cub has been named MVP and the ninth since the BBWAA began voting in 1931. He joins Dustin Pedroia (2007-08), Ryan Howard (2005-06) and Cal Ripken Jr. (1982-83) as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in back-to-back seasons.

He called it “humbling” and then remained humble while talking about his approach to his rapidly increasing stardom.

“I feel like good guys finish first, so being humble and being a good role model for kids, that's something I strive for more than putting up good numbers or any of my individual goals,” Bryant said. “I don't want to be that person people look at and say is too cocky. I just want to do my job, put smiles on people's faces and win a lot of games along the way. This year was the perfect way to illustrate that.”

The numbers paint a pretty good picture too.

Writers vote for the award before the postseason, and Bryant was among the NL leaders in several categories, finishing first with 121 runs scored and 7.7 wins against replacement, according to Baseball Reference.

He was third with 39 home runs and 334 total bases and fourth with a .554 slugging percentage and .939 OPS. He batted .292, drove in 102 runs and contributed to the Cubs' versatility by playing third base and the outfield.

Along the way, he turned in some jaw-dropping single-game performances.

On June 27 in Cincinnati, Bryant went 5-for-5 with six RBIs, became the first player in major-league history with three homers and two doubles in a game and set a franchise record with 16 total bases.

On Aug. 18, he became the second player in major-league history with two five-hit, five-RBI games in one season, joining 1945 MVP Phil Cavarretta of the Cubs.

Bryant said he texted teammate Anthony Rizzo, who finished fourth in MVP voting, to say he couldn't have won the award without Rizzo. And he said the Cubs' young core wants more.

“It says a lot about our team being so young and being able to win a World Series this year,” Bryant said. “Knowing we are going to have this core together for a handful of years, there's a lot of opportunity in front of us, and it's up to us to make the most of it.”

ckane@chicagotribune.com