Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez finalists for Silver Slugger Award
The Royals could be filling up the award mantle this fall!
Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez were named finalists for the Silver Slugger Award, given annually to the top offensive performer at each position. Salvy is a four-time winner of the award, while Bobby was a finalist last year for the first time, but was passed over for Rangers shortstop Corey Seager in 2023.
Salvy was third among American League catchers with 27 home runs, and led them with 104 RB1 and a .456 slugging percentage. He has been a finalist in ten of the last eleven seasons, taking home the award in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021. He will be up against Houston’s Yainer Diaz, Oakland’s Shea Langeliers, and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh.
Bobby Witt Jr. became the first Royals player since George Brett in 1990 to win a batting title, leading the league at a .332 clip. He lead all AL shortstops with runs scored (125), RBI (109), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.588) and extra-base hits (88). He also became the first-ever shortstop to post consecutive 30 home run/30 stolen base seasons. Witt is a finalist at shortstop with Seager again and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson.
The winners will will be announced Tuesday, November 12, on MLB Network starting at 5 p.m. CT.
Royals Silver Slugger Award Winners
1980 - George Brett, 3B
1980 - Willie Wilson, OF
1982 - Hal McRae, DH
1982 - Willie Wilson, OF
1985 - George Brett, 3B
1986 - Frank White, 2B
1988 - George Brett, 1B
1995 - Gary Gaetti, 3B
1998 - Dean Palmer, 3B
2012 - Billy Butler, DH
2015 - Kendrys Morales, DH
2016 - Salvador Perez, C
2017 - Eric Hosmer, 1B
2018 - Salvador Perez, C
2020 - Salvador Perez, C
2021 - Salvador Perez, C