Dodgers News: Mookie Betts Wins Silver Slugger Award, JD Martinez Snubbed
The 2023 season was a historic one offensively for the Dodgers, as they set records throughout the regular season. But once the postseason came around, the team went ice cold with their bats, marking a fierce case of irony.
However, we can celebrate the success that LA had during the regular season, especially considering that they were expected to take a step back this past year. But they pushed through it all, and put together one of the better run-producing years in history.
This led to multiple members of the team being potential winners for the Silver Slugger award, but unfortunately only one took home the honor. Star utility man Mookie Betts won the award for the National League outfield, making it his sixth time getting crowned.
Betts put together one of the best seasons in recent memory, and he is currently a finalist for the National League MVP honors as well. He hit .307 with 39 home runs and 107 runs batted in over the course of the year. It was his best season as a member of the Dodgers and helped keep them afloat all year long.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez was among the favorites for the honor as well, but he fell short, losing to Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. This was a clear snub, and Martinez deserved the award more so than Harper.
Looking at the numbers between the two players, Martinez was better during the regular season, even with Harper playing in 13 more games during the year.
Martinez hit .271 with 33 home runs and 103 runs batted in while posting an OPS of .893. Harper batted .293 with 21 home runs and 72 runs batted in while posting an OPS of .900.
Make it make sense. Martinez was snubbed of his award plain and simple.
Other members of the Dodgers who could have the award were first baseman Freddie Freeman, who lost out to Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, and catcher Will Smith, who fell short with the award going to William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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J D Martinez outslugged and outproduced Harper in all categories except batting average and on base percentage, it ‘s ridiculous. Who did this?
JD should win comeback player of the year.
Bellinger won that
Name recognition was the only reason he got the award.
Bryce Harper is the single most overrated ball player of all time. He wasn’t even playing half the season, and his performance, AS USUAL, was average at best. I will never be able to understand why the MLB continues to walk on eggshells for that dude. And to think the Phillies actually kicked their outstanding first baseman off the team, just so that Harper can practice being a sh*tty firstbaseman (he’s NOT good at it) is almost a joke at this point. Overrated and over hyped.
He’s so overrated I will never understand why they keep trying to make him seem better than he is. Sometimes I feel like his daddy must be the ghost-owner of the MLB.
Not sure who votes for this award, but East Coast bias seemed to raise its ugly head once a again.