The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Monday that catcher Yasmani Grandal and shortstop Manny Machado have been named finalists to win the Louisville Slugger 2018 Silver Slugger Awards.
The winners for the Silver Slugger Awards will be announced Nov. 8 in a presentation on MLB Network after coaches and managers vote on the best offensive players at each position.
Machado looks to become the third straight Dodgers shortstop to win the award as Corey Seager won it each of the last two years. He is in the midst of an outstanding offensive season between the Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles, hitting .296/.367/.541.
His 37 home runs are the most among shortstops, as is his .908 on-base plus slugging percentage while his 102 RBI are second behind only Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs.
In 59 games with the Dodgers, Machado is hitting .268/.335/.490 with 13 home runs and 37 RBI. Machado’s biggest competition to win the award in the National League is certainly Baez, and Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story also has a strong case.
Grandal is also having one of the best offensive seasons of his career. The 29-year-old is hitting .233/.344/.459, leading all NL catchers with 24 home runs and ranking fourth with 68 RBI. He also leads all Major League catchers with 69 walks and his .803 OPS ranks third.
Both J.T. Realmuto of the Miami Marlins and Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals have had outstanding offensive seasons and could be in the running to win the award as well.
