The Los Angeles Dodgers have 5 Silver Slugger finalists, Main League Baseball introduced early Monday morning.
The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded yearly since 1980 to acknowledge baseball’s high offensive gamers. Every league honors 10 gamers: one catcher, one designated hitter, one utility participant, one participant at every infield place, and three outfielders.
Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, and Will Smith are all a finalist of their respective positions.
Ohtani had a historic season, making MLB historical past as the primary participant to hit 50 or extra house runs (54) and steal 50 or extra bases (59) in a single 12 months. His competitors within the designated hitter class, Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna, was statistically aggressive with Ohtani till the ultimate stretch. This might be Ohtani’s third Silver Slugger.
Betts is nominated as a utility participant and already has six Silver Sluggers to his identify. He began the season at shortstop however later transitioned again to proper area after coping with an damage. He concluded the 12 months with a .863 OPS and 19 house runs over 116 video games. His competitors is fierce with Nationwide League batting champion Luis Arraez nominated as properly.
Earlier than injuring his proper ankle on the finish of the common season, three-time Silver Slugger first baseman Freeman had one other spectacular 12 months, posting a batting line of .282/.378/.476 (143 OPS+) and hitting 22 house runs in 147 video games.
Hernández hit a career-best 33 house runs and recorded a .840 OPS for the Dodgers. He was chosen as an All-Star for the second time and in addition claimed victory within the Residence Run Derby held in Arlington. He has gained two Silver Sluggers in his profession and if he wins this 12 months, it should set off a $1 million bonus.
Smith was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season and his worst offensive season so far. The catcher hit 20 house runs and drove in 75 runs whereas ending the 12 months with a .760 OPS for the Dodgers.
If greater than two of Ohtani, Hernández, Betts, Freeman, and Smith win the award, it will mark the primary time the Dodgers have acquired three or extra Silver Slugger Awards in a single season.
Right here is the complete listing of NL Silver Slugger finalists:
Necessary Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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