Four Dodgers, One Angel Nominated As 2021 Silver Slugger Award Finalists
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - The Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award Finalists for the 2021 season have been announced.
As defined by MLB, "Given out since 1980, the Silver Slugger recognizes the best offensive players at each position in each league. The winners are voted upon by Major League managers and coaches, who are unable to vote for players on their own teams."
The winners will be announced on November 11 on MLB Network.
Four Dodgers had their names included in the finalists on Monday:
Will Smith, C - .258, 25 HR, 76 RBI, .365 OBP, .495 SLG, .860 OPS
Just three years in the league and Smith is already establishing himself as one of the best offensive backstops in the league. Amongst catchers with at least 300 plate appearances this year, Smith ranked Top Three in every category, outside of batting average. He was first in homers, runs (71) and runs batted in, second in WAR (4.6), slugging percentage and OPS, and third in on-base percentage. Smith also led the National League in sacrifice flies with 11.
This would be Smith's first Silver Slugger Award.
Max Muncy, 1B - .249, 36 HR, 94 RBI, .368 OBP, .527 SLG, .895 OPS
Muncy had yet another year of consistency since joining the Dodgers, hitting for a career-high in homers - by one - and just four under his career high in runs driven in. He was tied for first amongst all National League first baseman in WAR (4.9), and was third in on-base percentage and slugging. This would be his first Silver Slugger Award.
As recently as August 18, Muncy was rated as the No. 3 favorite for the NL MVP Award, and he was also nominated for a Gold Glove Award for his defensive performance at first base.
Justin Turner, 2B - .278, 27 HR, 87 RBI, .361 OBP, .461 SLG, .832 OPS
Somehow, Justin Turner was designated as a finalist for the award at second base, despite not playing a single inning at the position for the Dodgers this season. Amongst third basemen, since that is his listed position at which he played 143 games at in 2021, Turner was second overall in on-base percentage, tied for third in WAR (4.0), tied for second in batting average, and sixth in slugging. However, when you put those numbers in amongst other second basemen, nearly all of those numbers see a decrease in ranking.
This would be Turner's first Silver Slugger Award.
Trea Turner, SS - .328, 28 HR, 77 RBI, .375 OBP, .536 SLG, .911 OPS
Turner was a force at the plate this year. He led the entire league in both hits (195) and batting average, while also leading the National League in stolen bases (32) and total bases (319). He finished Top 10 in the league in WAR (6.5), runs scored (107) and runs created (118). Turner led National League second basemen in nearly every category, most notably batting average and on-base percentage, while finishing second in slugging percentage.
However, Turner spent plenty of time at both shortstop and second base this year, and his nomination came as a shortstop. His numbers compared to other shortstops in the league are as follows: No. 1 in batting average and on-base percentage, No. 2 in both slugging percentage and OPS, No. 3 in home runs and No. 5 runs driven in. Not to mention he was tracked as the faster player in the league this year with a top sprint speed of 30.7 miles per hour.
This would be Turner's first Silver Slugger Award.
One Angel was also listed as a finalist:
Shohei Ohtani, DH - .257, 46 HR, 100 RBI, .372 OBP, .592 SLG, .965 OPS
If you haven't heard, Shohei Ohtani is the first Major League player to do just about a hundred things in the last hundred years, or at least since Babe Ruth last played baseball.
In reality though, baseball fans were just treated to a season unlike any most had ever seen. Ohtani not only dominated off the mound, but also at the plate in 2021. The 2021 All-Star (voted in both as a pitcher and position player) established himself as the American League MVP favorite, as well as tossed his name into Cy Young Contention. He was given the rare Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award and he was voted as both the American League Outstanding Player of the Year and MLB Player of the Year by the MLBPA (MLB Player's Association).
This season, Ohtani was ranked in the Top 10 in virtually every major statistic, some of the more notable ones are listed as follows: first in WAR (9.0), first in triples (8), second in intentional base on balls (20), second in extra-base hits (80), third in home runs, fourth in slugging percentage, fourth in runs created (122), fifth in on-base percentage, fifth in total bases (318) and fifth in base on balls (96). Those numbers are across the entire league, not just limited to the American League.
It's worth noting that Ohtani finished the season with a 9-2 record, sporting a 3.18 ERA over 130.1 innings pitched, adding 156 strikeouts to his season totals.
This would be the first Silver Slugger Award in Ohtani's career.
RELATED: Three Dodgers, Two Angels Nominated As 2021 Gold Glove Award Finalists
Four teams finished with five finalists: the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Atlanta Braves. On the other hand, the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins did not receive a single nomination. They are the only three teams in the MLB that received neither a Silver Slugger Finalist, or a Gold Glove Award Finalist.
Of the finalists, 25 have won at least once before, while 13 have won multiple Silver Slugger awards in their careers. Barry Bonds is the all-time leader, with 12 Silver Slugger Awards over his career. Paul Goldschmidt is currently tied (with Albert Pujols) for the most ever Silver Slugger Awards as a first baseman, with four.
The Louisville Silver Slugger Award Finalists for 2021:
American League
Catchers
Salvador Perez, KCR - Won in 2016, 2018, 2020 (.273, 48 HR, 121 RBI, .316 OBP, .544 SLG, .859 OPS)
Mike Zunino, TB - (.216, 33 HR, 62 RBI, .301 OBP, .559 SLG, .860, OPS)
Gary Sanchez, NYY - Won in 2017 (.204, 23 HR, 54 RBI, .307 OBP, .423 SLG, .730 OPS)
First Basemen
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., TOR - (.311, 48 HR, 111 RBI, .401 OBP, .601 SLG, 1.002 OPS)
Yulieski Gurriel, HOU - (.319, 15 HR, 81 RBI, .383 OBP, .462 SLG, .846 OPS)
Matt Olson, OAK - (.271, 39 HR, 111 RBI, .371 OBP, .540 SLG, .911 OPS)
Second Basemen
Marcus Semien, TOR - (.265, 45 HR, 102 RBI, .334 OBP, .538 SLG, .873 OPS)
Jose Altuve, HOU - Won in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (.278, 31 HR, 83 RBI, .350 OBP, .489 SLG, .839 OPS)
DJ LeMahieu, NYY - Won in 2019, 2020 (.268, 10 HR, 57 RBI, .349 OBP, .362 SLG, .711 OPS)
Jorge Polanco, MIN - (.269, 33 HR, 98 RBI, .323 OBP, .503 SLG, .826 OPS)
Third Basemen
Rafael Devers, BOS - (.279, 38 HR, 113 RBI, .352 OBP, .538 SLG, .890 OPS)
Jose Ramirez, CLE - Won in 2017, 2018, 2020 (.266, 36 HR, 103 RBI, .355 OBP, .538 SLG, .893 OPS)
Kyle Seager, SEA - (.212, 25 HR, 101 RBI, .285 OBP, .438 SLG, .723 OPS)
Shortstops
Carlos Correa, HOU - (.279, 26 HR, 92 RBI, .366 OBP, .485 SLG, .850 OPS)
Xander Bogaerts, BOS - Won in 2015, 2016, 2019 (.295, 23 HR, 79 RBI, .370 OBP, .493 SLG, .863 OPS)
Tim Anderson, CWS - Won in 2020 (.309, 17 HR, 61 RBI, .338 OBP, .469 SLG, .806)
Bo Bichette, TOR - (.298, 29 HR, 102 RBI, .343 OBP, .484 SLG, .828 OPS)
Outfield
Cedric Mullins, BAL - (.291, 30 HR, 59 RBI, .360 OBP, .518 SLG, .878 OPS)
Randy Arozarena, TB - (.274, 20 HR, 69 RBI, .356 OBP, .459 SLG, .815 OPS)
Teoscar Hernandez, TOR - Won in 2020 (.296, 32 HR, 116 RBI, .346 OBP, .524 SLG, 870 OPS)
Kyle Tucker, HOU - (.294, 30 HR, 92 RBI, .359 OBP, .557 SLG, .917 OPS)
Aaron Judge, NYY - Won in 2017 (.287, 39 HR, 98 RBI, .373 OBP, .544 SLG, .916 OPS)
Mitch Haniger, SEA - (.253, 39 HR, 100 RBI, .318 OBP, .485 SLG, .804 OPS)
Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., TOR - (.276, 21 HR, 84 RBI, .319 OBP, .466 SLG, .785 OPS)
Hunter Renfroe, BOS - (.259, 31 HR, 96 RBI, .315 OBP, .501 SLG, .816 OPS)
Designated Hitters
Shohei Ohtani, LAA - (.257, 46 HR, 100 RBI, .372 OBP, .592 SLG, .965 OPS)
Yordan Alvarez, HOU - (.277, 33 HR, 104 RBI, .346 OBP, .531 SLG, .877 OPS)
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY - Won in 2014, 2017 (.273, 35 HR, 97 RBI, .354 OBP, .516 SLG, .870 OPS)
Joey Gallo, TEX/NYY - (.199, 38 HR, 77 RBI, .351 OBP, .458 SLG, .808 OPS)
Nelson Cruz, MIN/TB - Won in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 (.265, 32 HR, 86 RBI, .334 OBP, .497 SLG, .832 OPS)
National League
Catchers
Buster Posey, SF - Won in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 (.304, 18 HR, 56 RBI, .390 OBP, .499 SLG, .889 OPS)
Will Smith, LAD - (.258, 25 HR, 76 RBI, .365 OBP, .495 SLG, .860 OPS)
J.T. Realmuto, PHI - Won in 2018, 2019 (.263, 17 HR, 73 RBI, .343 OBP, .438 SLG, .782 OPS)
Omar Narvaez, MIL - (.266, 11 HR, 49 RBI, .342 OBP, .402 SLG, .743 OPS)
First Basemen
Freddie Freeman, ATL - Won in 2019, 2020 (.300, 31 HR, 83 RBI, .393 OBP, .503 SLG, .896 OPS)
Joey Votto, CIN - (.266, 36 HR, 99 RBI, .375 OBP, .563 SLG, .938 OPS)
Paul Goldschmidt, STL - Won in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 (.294, 31 HR, 99 RBI, .365 OBP, .514 SLG, .879 OPS)
Max Muncy, LAD - (.249, 36 HR, 94 RBI, .368 OBP, .527 SLG, .895 OPS)
Second Basemen
Ozzie Albies, ATL - Won in 2019 (.259, 30 HR, 106 RBI, .310 OBP, .488 SLG, .799 OPS)
Jonathan India, CIN - (.269, 21 HR, 69 RBI, .376 OBP, .459 SLG, .835 OPS)
Jake Cronenworth, SD - (.266, 21 HR, 71 RBI, .340 OBP, .460 SLG, .800 OPS)
Justin Turner, LAD - (.278, 27 HR, 87 RBI, .361 OBP, .461 SLG, .832 OPS)
Third Basemen
Austin Riley, ATL - (.303, 33 HR, 107 RBI, .367 OBP, .531 SLG, .898 OPS)
Manny Machado, SD - Won in 2020 (.278, 28 HR, 106 RBI, .347 OBP, .489 SLG, .836 OPS)
Nolan Arenado, STL - Won in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (.255, 34 HR, 105 RBI, .312 OBP, .494 SLG, .807)
Patrick Wisdom, CHC - (.231, 28 HR, 61 RBI, .305 OBP, .518, .823 OPS)
Shortstops
Fernando Tatis, Jr., SD - Won in 2020 (.282, 42 HR, 97 RBI, .364 OBP, .611 SLG, .975 OPS)
Brandon Crawford, SF - Won in 2015 (.298, 24 HR, 90 RBI, .373 OBP, .522 SLG, .895 OPS)
Trea Turner, WSH/LAD - (.328, 28 HR, 77 RBI, .375 OBP, .536 SLG, .911 OPS)
Willy Adames, TB/MIL - (.262, 25 HR, 73 RBI, .377 OBP, .481 SLG, .818 OPS)
Outfield
Bryan Reynolds, PIT - (.302, 24 HR, 90 RBI, .390 OBP, .522 SLG, .912 OPS)
Adam Duvall, MIA/ATL - (.228, 38 HR, 113 RBI, .281 OBP, .491 SLG, .772 OPS)
Jesse Winker, CIN - (.305, 24 HR, 71 RBI, .394 OBP, .596 SLG, .949 OPS)
Tyler O'Neill, STL - (.286, 34 HR, 80 RBI, .352 OBP, .560 SLG, .912 OPS)
Juan Soto, WSH - Won in 2020 (.313, 29 HR, 95 RBI, .465 OBP, .534 SLG, .999 OPS)
Nick Castellanos, CIN (.309, 34 HR, 100 RBI, .362 OBP, .576 SLG, .939 OPS)
Bryce Harper, PHI - Won in 2015 (.309, 35 HR, 84 RBI, .429 OBP, .615 SLG, 1.004 OPS)
Pitchers
German Marquez, COL - Won in 2018 (.229, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 10 Sac Hits, .229 OBP, .354 SLG, .583 OPS)
Max Fried, ATL - (.273, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 8 Sac Hits, .322 OBP, .327 SLG, .649 OPS)
Jacob deGrom, NYM - (.364, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 Sac Hits, .364 OBP, .394 SLG, .758 OPS)
Madison Bumgarner, ARI - Won in 2014, 2015 (.103, O HR, 3 RBI, 2 Sac Hits, .280 OBP, .128 SLG, .408 OPS)
You can view the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists here.
