The Los Angeles Dodgers had Will Smith (catcher), Max Muncy (first base) and Trea Turner (second base, shortstop) named 2021 Silver Slugger Award finalists, but like with the Gold Glove Awards this year, the team went without a recipient. Justin Turner being originally mentioned as a finalist at second base was incorrect.
Silver Slugger Award winners were voted on by each manager and three coaches of his choosing. However, the managers and coaches who participate are not allowed to vote for any player from their respective team.
World Series opponents, Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, tied for the lead with five finalists each. The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays also produced five finalists. The Braves led all teams with four winners, followed by the Blue Jays’ three.
None of the Dodgers’ 2021 nominees have ever won a Silver Slugger. Mookie Betts took home a Silver Slugger last year.
Smith fell short to the San Francisco Giants’ for the National League Silver Slugger Award at the catcher position. Smith hit .258/.365/.495 with 19 doubles, 25 home runs and 76 RBI over his first full Major League season.
Posey had a bounce-back campaign and led all NL catchers with an .889 on-base plus slugging percentage in what wound up being his final season.
Posey retires with five career Silver Slugger Awards, which is tied with Brian McCann and Gary Carter for the second most in MLB history among NL catchers. Mike Piazza leads in the category with 10.
Muncy set a career high with 36 home runs this season, besting the 35 he had in 2018 and 2019. Along with homers, Muncy additionally led the Dodgers with 94 RBI (second-highest of career) and 83 walks. Overall, he hit .249/.368/.527.
However, it was the Braves’ Freddie Freeman who was voted the Silver Slugger Award winner at first base. Freeman has now received the honor three times and is one shy of tying Paul Goldschmidt, Todd Helton and Albert Pujols for the MLB record at first base.
Trea Turner was bested for a Silver Slugger at second base by the Braves’ Ozzie Albies, who won the second of his career. The San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. earned the honor at shortstop, also his second.
Turner became the first Dodger to win the NL batting title since Tommy Davis in 1963 and including time spent with the Washington Nationals, finished the season hitting .328/.375/.536 with 34 doubles, 28 home runs and 77 RBI.
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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