Major League Baseball announced its 2019 Silver Slugger Award winners during a live MLB Network telecast on Thursday night.
The award — presented by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger baseball bats — has been given out annually since 1980 to the top offensive performers at each defensive position and designated hitter, as voted on by MLB managers and coaches.
Leading off — and a bit of a shocker, to boot — Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman (.295/.389/.549, 38 HR, 121 RBIs, 138 wRC+, 4.0 fWAR) beat out the Mets’ Pete Alonso (.260/.358/.583, 53 HR, 120 RBIs, 143 wRC+, 4.8 fWAR) for the Silver Slugger Award at first base in the National League.
In all fairness, Freeman had an outstanding, well-rounded offensive season. That being said, Alonso was the epitome of a slugger in 2019.
Cleveland’s Carlos Santana (.281/.397/.515, 34 HR, 93 RBIs, 135 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR) won at first base in the American League.
At second base, the Braves’ Ozzie Albies (.295/.352/.500, 24 HR, 86 RBIs, 117 wRC+, 4.6 fWAR) and the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu (.327/.375/.518, 26 HR, 102 RBIs, 136 wRC+, 5.4 fWAR) were both honored for the first time.
Boston’s Xander Bogaerts (.309/.384/.555, 33 HR, 117 RBIs, 141 wRC+, 6.8 fWAR; third award) and Colorado’s Trevor Story (.294/.363/.554, 35 HR, 85 RBIs, 121 wRC+, 5.8 fWAR; second) won at shortstop.
In an impromptu World Series-themed segment of the show, Washington’s Anthony Rendon (.319/.412/.598, 34 HR, 126 RBIs, 154 wRC+, 7.0 fWAR; second award) and Houston’s Alex Bregman (.296/.423/.592, 41 HR, 112 RBIs, 168 wRC+, 8.5 fWAR; first) took home the hardware at third base.
Houston’s George Springer (.292/.383/.591, 39 HR, 96 RBIs, 156 wRC+, 6.5 fWAR; second award), Boston’s Mookie Betts (.295/.391/.524, 29 HR, 80 RBIs, 135 wRC+, 6.6 fWAR; third), and Los Angeles’ Mike Trout (.291/.438/.645, 45 HR, 104 RBIs, 180 wRC+, 8.6 fWAR; seventh) took home the honors in the AL outfield.
Their NL counterparts were Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. (.280/.365/.518, 41 HR, 101 RBIs, 126 wRC+, 5.6 fWAR; first), the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (.305/.406/.629, 47 HR, 115 RBIs, 162 wRC+, 7.8 fWAR; first), and Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich (.329/.429/.671, 44 HR, 97 RBIs, 174 wRC+, 7.8 fWAR; third).
Behind the plate, Minnesota’s Mitch Garver (.273/.365/.630, 31 HR, 67 RBIs, 155 wRC+, 3.9 fWAR; first) and Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto (.275/.328/.493, 25 HR, 83 RBIs, 108 wRC+, 5.7 fWAR; second) won out.
Zack Greinke, formerly of Arizona, (.280/.308/.580, 3 HR, 123 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR; second award) won the NL honors on the mound and Texas’ Nelson Cruz (.311/.392/.639, 41 HR, 108 RBIs, 163 wRC+, 4.3 fWAR; third) won in the DH spot.
Stats via FanGraphs
