A quartet of MVP candidates were among the 2015 Silver Slugger Award winners, announced on Thursday evening, with Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson, Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt honored as the top offensive players at their position in their league for this season.
Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt highlight 2015 Silver Slugger Award winners
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Silver Slugger Awards are determined by a vote of managers and coaches in each league, with the caveats that voters can only pick players in their own league, and can’t select players on their own team.
Harper hit .330/.460/.649 with 42 home runs, 38 doubles and 124 walks for the Nationals, and on Tuesday was named a finalist, a top-three finisher for National League MVP along with Goldschmidt, the Diamondbacks first baseman who hit .321/.435/.570 with 33 home runs, 38 doubles and 118 walks.
Donaldson hit .297/.371/.568 with 41 home runs and a major-league-leading 123 RBI for the Blue Jays, one of three American League MVP finalists along with Trout, the 2014 AL MVP who hit .299/.402/.590 with 41 home runs for the Angels. This is Trout's fourth Silver Slugger Award in his four full major league seasons.
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen also captured his fourth straight Silver Slugger Award, one of three NL outfielders.
Four National Leaguers achieved double-duty honors, winning both Gold Glove Awards and Silver Slugger Awards, recognized as the top fielding and hitting players at their positions -- Goldschmidt at first base, Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.
Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner won his second straight Silver Slugger Award, and rightfully so. Bumgarner hit .247/.275/.468 and led all major league pitchers in home runs (five), RBI (nine) and runs scored (eight). San Francisco even used Bumgarner as a pinch hitter four times in 2015, and he was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Here are the full list of winners of the 2015 Silver Slugger Awards
National League
Catcher: Buster Posey, Giants
First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
Second base: Dee Gordon, Marlins
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfield: Bryce Harper, Nationals; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
American League
Catcher: Brian McCann, Yankees
First base: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros
Third base: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels; Nelson Cruz, Mariners; J.D. Martinez, Tigers
Designated hitter: Kendrys Morales, Royals
See More:
