The Los Angeles Dodgers had Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez named among the 2023 Silver Slugger Award finalists in the National League.
Freeman, Betts and Smith were up for the offensive honor last year as well. Muncy and Smith were among the Dodgers’ finalists in 2021.
This season, Betts is a Silver Slugger finalist both in the outfield and for the utility position.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves), Cody Bellinger (Cody Bellinger), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks), Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) and Juan Soto (San Diego Padres) are NL Silver Slugger Award finalists in the outfield as well.
Three outfielders will be picked as Silver Slugger winners in each league.
At the NL utility position, Betts’ competition comprises of Bellinger, Ha-Seong Kim (Padres) and Spencer Steer (Cincinnati Reds).
Betts doesn’t need to look any further than to his close friend, Martinez, for recent history of winning multiple Silver Slugger Awards in the same season. Martinez did so with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 as an outfielder and designated hitter.
Freeman is up against Pete Alonso (New York Mets) and Matt Olson (Braves).
Along with Muncy, Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals), Manny Machado (Padres) and Austin Riley (Braves) are Silver Slugger finalists at third base.
Smith’s competition at catcher are William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers), Sean Murphy (Braves) and J.T. Realmuto (Phillies).
In addition to Martinez, Bryce Harper (Phillies), Marcell Ozuna (Braves) and Jorge Soler (Miami Marlins) are candidates for the Silver Slugger at the DH position in the NL.
All 2023 Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced Thursday, November 9, on MLB Network in a one-hour telecast that begins at 3 p.m. PT.
Winners are determined by MLB managers and coaches who vote for players at each position in their respective leagues; each team receives four votes, one for manager and three coaches of their choice.
Silver Slugger voting is based on combination of offensive statistics, such as batting average, on-base plus slugging percentage, runs scored, home runs, RBI, total bases, RBI, OPS+, along with the managers’ and coaches’ general impressions of a player’s overall value at the plate.
Dodgers nominated for Team Silver Slugger Award
For the first time in its history, a Silver Slugger is also being presented to the best offensive team in both leagues.
The Braves, Dodgers, Padres and Phillies are finalists in the NL.
American League Team Silver Slugger Award finalists are the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
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