The MLB Awards season continued Thursday with the unveiling of the 2017 Silver Slugger Award winners. It’s presented annually to the top hitter at each position in the American and National Leagues, based on votes by Major League coaches and managers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were represented by Corey Seager, who won a second Silver Slugger Award in as many seasons. Seager hit .295/.375/.479 with 33 doubles, 22 home runs, 77 RBI, a 125 OPS+, .364 wOBA and 127 wRC+ in 145 games this season.
He led all NL shortstops in total hits (159) and walks (67), was second in doubles, on-base plus slugging percentage (.854) and walk rate (10.9 percent), tied for second in RBI, and was fourth in home runs.
Seager is the first Dodgers player to win a Silver Slugger in back-to-back seasons since Mike Piazza claimed five in a row from 1993-1997. Moreover, Seager is the only Dodgers shortstop to receive the award since its inception in 1980.
Houston Astros second baseman and AL MVP candidate Jose Altuve took home a fourth career Silver Slugger Award, and so too did San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.
Several of the winners, namely Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton put on a power display as an MLB record 6,105 home runs were hit. Stanton led all players with 59 homers, which was the most since Barry Bonds’ 73 and Sammy Sosa’s 61 in the 2001 season.
The AL was littered with six first-time Silver Slugger winners.
National League Silver Sluggers
Catcher: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants (fourth award)
First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks (third award)
Second base: Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals (second award)
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (third award)
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers (second award)
Outfield: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (second award)
Outfield: Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins (first award)
Outfield: Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies (second award)
Pitcher: Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals (first award)
American League Silver Sluggers
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees (first award)
First base: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals (first award)
Second base: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros (fourth award)
Third base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians (first award)
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians (first award)
Outfield: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (first award)
Outfield: Justin Upton, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (third award)
Outfield: George Springer, Houston Astros (first award)
Designated hitter: Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners (second award)
