The unveiling of 2021 Silver Slugger Award finalists had the Los Angeles Dodgers represented by Will Smith, Max Muncy, Justin Turner and Trea Turner.
Smith was a finalist among National League catchers, Muncy at first base and Turner at shortstop. However, Justin Turner curiously was listed among NL second basemen up for the award. It was presumed to have been related to often playing the position on a defensive shift.
The Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies, Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres’ Jake Cronenworth were other finalists for a Silver Slugger at second base. Albies wound up winning the award for a second time in his career.
However, it has since come to light that Trea Turner received votes at second base and shortstop, rather than Justin Turner being a Silver Slugger Award finalist out of position, according to Eric Stephen of SB Nation:
Have confirmed that it was Trea Turner (not Justin) receiving Silver Slugger votes at 2B. Trea received votes at both 2B and SS.
The NL Silver Slugger Award at those positions went to Ozzie Albies and Fernando Tatis Jr., respectively
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) November 12, 2021
Position aside, the notion that Turner would up be for the award wasn’t a surprise. More curious than Turner being listed at second base was not getting named among the finalists at third base.
He finished the season batting .278/.361/.471 with 22 doubles, 27 home runs and 87 RBI. Turner tied career highs with 151 games played and in homers. He led the Dodgers in games and was second in home runs.
Turner got off to a hot start and slugged six home runs in the first month of the season, which was double his career total for games played in March and April.
2021 SILVER SLUGGER AWARD WINNERS
National League
P: Max Fried, Atlanta Braves (first career Silver Slugger)
C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants (fifth)
1B: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves (third)
2B: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves (second)
3B: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (first)
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (second)
OF: Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds (first)
OF: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (second)
OF: Juan Soto, Washington Nationals (second)
American League
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (first)
C: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals (fourth)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (first)
2B: Marcus Semien, Toronto Blue Jays (first)
3B: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (first)
SS: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros (first)
OF: Teoscar Hernandez, Toronto Blue Jays (second)
OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (second)
OF: Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles (first)
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