The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball (MLB). These voters consider several offensive categories in selecting the winners, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, in addition to "coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value". [1] Managers and coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. [1] The Silver Slugger was first awarded in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats. [2] The award is a bat-shaped trophy, 3 feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league [1] and plated with sterling silver. [3]
In 2022, Major League Baseball began awarding a Silver Slugger Award to utility players (i.e. players who played multiple fielding positions in a given season). [4]
| Year | Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season |
| AVG | Batting average |
| OBP | On-base percentage |
| SLG | Slugging percentage |
| HR | Home runs |
| RBI | Runs batted in |
| Ref | References |
| * or ** | Winner of the most Silver Slugger Awards at his position (** indicates tie) |
| † | Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |
| Year | Player | Team | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Luis Arráez ** | Minnesota Twins | .316 | .375 | .420 | 8 | 49 | [5] |
| 2023 | Gunnar Henderson ** | Baltimore Orioles | .255 | .325 | .489 | 28 | 82 | [6] |
| Year | Player | Team | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Brandon Drury ** | Cincinnati Reds San Diego Padres | .263 | .320 | .492 | 28 | 87 | [7] [8] |
| 2023 | Cody Bellinger ** | Chicago Cubs | .307 | .356 | .525 | 26 | 97 | [9] |
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