The Los Angeles Dodgers were named the 2024 Silver Slugger National League Offensive Team of the Year, beating out the Arizona Diamondbacks for the honor.
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks were the only two finalists for the award, and it could have gone either way with both teams having fantastic seasons.
The Dodgers collectively hit .258/.335/.446 with 845 runs scored and led the NL in wRC+ (118), slugging percentage, home runs (233) and on-base plus slugging (.781).
The D-Backs hit .263/.337/.440, led the NL in runs scored (886), batting average and on-base percentage; and finished second in slugging percentage, OPS (.777) and wRC+ (115); and third in home runs (211).
Team Silver Slugger recognition is a recent invention by MLB, with the inaugural award being presented last season. The Dodgers were also in contention in 2023, but lost out to the Atalanta Braves as part of four finalists.
This year, the Dodgers were able to win the award despite the injuries and adversity they dealt with. Max Muncy and Mookie Betts both missed significant time with injuries and the Dodgers lost various other players for stints throughout the year.
Still, the team was able to continue producing, led by the top four in the lineup, most notably Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani was the driving force behind the Dodgers’ slugging prowess with his 38 doubles, seven triples and 54 home runs. Teoscar Hernández was second on the team 32 doubles and 33 home runs.
Betts contributed 24 doubles and 19 homers of his own, while Freeman rounded out the Dodgers’ top four with 35 two-baggers and 22 long balls.
The Dodgers as a team also played smart, fundamental baseball and did the little things well, which manager Dave Roberts credited them for.
“It’s everything,” Roberts recently said. “I think that’s kind of the separator with our ballplayers. I talk a lot about talent and also intelligence. I say intelligence, because you still have to value swinging at strikes and taking balls.
“The value of taking a walk if given to you. So our guys can slug, but they can do that. Freddie on one leg to be able to go first to third to create a situational opportunity. Teo to then get better at his defense and value defense, and you can even argue more than his hitting right now.”
Dodgers Silver Slugger results
The Dodgers had six finalists for the awards, including five players: Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Hernández and Will Smith. In total, the Dodgers took home four 2024 Silver Sluggers with the team award in addition to Ohtani, Betts and Hernández winning at their respective positions.
Freeman lost out to Bryce Harper while William Contreras took home the honors ahead of Smith.
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