5 Dodgers Named Silver Slugger Finalists
The Los Angeles Dodgers have five Silver Slugger finalists, Major League Baseball announced early Monday morning.
The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980 to recognize baseball’s top offensive players. Each league honors 10 players: one catcher, one designated hitter, one utility player, one player at each infield position, and three outfielders.
Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, and Will Smith are all a finalist in their respective positions.
Ohtani had a historic season, making MLB history as the first player to hit 50 or more home runs (54) and steal 50 or more bases (59) in a single year. His competition in the designated hitter category, Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna, was statistically competitive with Ohtani until the final stretch. This would be Ohtani’s third Silver Slugger.
Betts is nominated as a utility player and already has six Silver Sluggers to his name. He started the season at shortstop but later transitioned back to right field after dealing with an injury. He concluded the year with a .863 OPS and 19 home runs over 116 games. His competition is fierce with National League batting champion Luis Arraez nominated as well.
Before injuring his right ankle at the end of the regular season, three-time Silver Slugger first baseman Freeman had another impressive year, posting a batting line of .282/.378/.476 (143 OPS+) and hitting 22 home runs in 147 games.
Hernández hit a career-best 33 home runs and recorded a .840 OPS for the Dodgers. He was selected as an All-Star for the second time and also claimed victory in the Home Run Derby held in Arlington. He has won two Silver Sluggers in his career and if he wins this year, it will trigger a $1 million bonus.
Smith was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season and his worst offensive season to date. The catcher hit 20 home runs and drove in 75 runs while finishing the year with a .760 OPS for the Dodgers.
If more than two of Ohtani, Hernández, Betts, Freeman, and Smith win the award, it would mark the first time the Dodgers have received three or more Silver Slugger Awards in a single season.
Here is the entire list of NL Silver Slugger finalists:
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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