The Los Angeles Dodgers had Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner and Trea Turner named among the 2022 Silver Slugger Award finalists.
The Silver Slugger Award annually recognizes the best offensive performer at each position in both leagues, with this year’s inclusion featuring a utility player as well. The designated hitter is included for both the American League and National League, which has eliminated the pitcher position from consideration.
Both leagues additionally have a utility player grouping, just like the Gold Glove Award introduced for the 2022 season.
Silver Slugger Award finalists are determined through voting by MLB managers and three coaches from each team. Last season the Dodgers were represented by Max Muncy, Will Smith and Trea Turner, though none of whom won the award.
Betts, who additionally is a finalist for a Gold Glove, hit .269/.340/.533 with 40 doubles, 35 home runs and 82 RBI this season. He tied for the NL lead with 117 runs scored, set a career high in homers and was touted as being the spark plug for the Dodgers lineup.
Michael Harris II (Atlanta Braves), Starling Marte (New York Mets), Brandon Nimmo (Mets), Joc Pederson (San Francisco Giants), Hunter Renfroe (Milwaukee Brewers), Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) and Juan Soto (San Diego Padres) are also finalists in the outfield for a Silver Slugger Award.
Three outfielders will be selected as winners. If Betts is among them, it would give him a fifth career Silver Slugger Award.
Freeman put together an MVP-caliber season that saw him bat .325/.407/.511 with 47 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBI. He led the Majors with 199 hits and in doubles. Freeman’s on-base percentage and runs scored (117) were tops in the NL; and he ranked second in the league in batting average, on-base plus slugging (.918), wOBA (.393) and wRC+ (157).
Betts and Freeman additionally are NL finalists for the 2022 Hank Aaron Award.
Pete Alonso (Mets), Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals), Matt Olson (Braves) and Christian Walker (Arizona Diamondbacks) are Freeman’s competition for a fourth consecutive Silver Slugger at first base.
Smith again proved to be a top catcher in baseball as he batted .260/.343/.465 with 26 doubles, 24 home runs and 87 RBI. He nonetheless was an All-Star Game snub once again and is seeking a first career Silver Slugger Award.
Travis d’Arnaud (Braves), Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs) and J.T. Realmuto (Phillies) are also finalists at the catcher position.
Taylor hit .221/.304/.373 with 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBI as he dealt with prolonged stretches of inconsistency. He additionally suffered from a neck injury late in the season for a second consecutive year.
Brandon Drury (Padres), Tommy Edman (Cardinals), Thairo Estrada (Giants) and Jeff McNeil are fellow Silver Slugger Award finalists for the utility position.
Justin Turner was named a Silver Slugger finalist at both third base and DH. He overcame a slow start to finish the season batting .278/.350/.438 with a career-high 36 doubles to go along with 13 home runs and 81 RBI.
Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Manny Machado (Padres) and Austin Riley (Braves) are third base finalists for a 2022 Silver Slugger Award.
Josh Bell (Padres), Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Albert Pujols (Cardinals) and Luke Voit (Washington Nationals) are finalists at DH. However, Harper fell just shy of the 100-game minimum in order to qualify for winning the award.
Trea Turner hit .298/.343/.466 with 39 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBI in his first full season with the Dodgers. Turner finished second to Freeman in total hits, which made them the first set to teammates to accomplish that feat since Brett Boone and Ichiro Suzuki did so with the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Willy Adames (Brewers), Francisco Lindor (Mets) and Dansby Swanson (Braves) make up Turner’s competition at shortstop.
2022 Silver Slugger Award winners
Winners of 2022 Silver Slugger Awards will be revealed Thursday, November 10, starting at 3 p.m. PT on MLB Network.
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