LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 07: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates a home … [+]
As announced November 9, Los Angeles Dodgers All Star slugger, Mookie Betts, has won his sixth Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.
The awards are given to the top offensive player at each position in both leagues.
Three outfield Silver Sluggers are awarded, regardless of the specific outfield position of the player. An award is also given to a utility player.
For the first time, a team award was given in each league.
Silver Slugger Awards are voted by MLB managers and coaches.
The right-handed hitting Betts does not have the physical stature of the prototypical big league slugger.
But, in fact, offensive stars come in all sizes. Betts is 5-9, 180 pounds. By comparison, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is 6-7, 282 pounds.
This past season, his 10th in the big leagues, Betts hit 39 home runs, and drove in 107 runs for the Dodgers.
Betts played in 152 games. He made 693 plate appearances.
Betts finished his seventh All Star season with an offensive line of .307/.408, .579/.987.
An incredibly complete, 5-tool baseball player, Betts walked 96 times this past season, one short of the 97 walks he accepted in 2019.
Betts struck out 107 times, which is fairly reasonable in this day of high velocity pitches, and an unprecedented number of wicked breaking balls being thrown by bigger, stronger, and more deceptive pitchers.
Mookie Betts also stole 14 bases in 17 attempts, on his way to scoring 126 runs.
In his career, Betts won the Most Valuable Player Award in 2018, as well as winning six Gold Gloves.
Here is the complete list of 2023 Rawlings Silver Sluggers:
Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager waves to fans as he stands behind his MVP trophy during a World Series … [+]
American League Silver Sluggers-
Catcher-Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
First Base-Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Second Base- Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
Shortstop-Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Third Base-Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Outfield- Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Outfield-Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
Outfield-Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
Designated Hitter-Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Utility Player-Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Offensive Team of the Year-Texas Rangers
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 07: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves steals third base in the … [+]
National League Silver Sluggers:
Catcher- William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
First Base-Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Second Base-Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
Shortstop-Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Third Base-Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
Outfield-Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves
Outfield-Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Outfield-Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
Designated Hitter-Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Utility Player-Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
Offensive Team of the Year-Atlanta Braves
LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 20: Bats for Ben Zobrist are pictured at the Louisville Slugger Museum and … [+]
Summary:
This year’s Silver Sluggers represent a who’s who among MLB stars.
For this old scout, Mookie Betts capturing his well-earned sixth Silver Slugger Award is a remarkable achievement.
Clearly, there are players young enough to potentially equal the high slugging bar set by Betts.
For example, Ronald Acuna Jr., has now won three. He’s still only 25-years-old.
Juan Soto has captured four Silver Slugger Awards. He just turned 25 October 25.
To win six Silver Slugger Awards is outstanding recognition of the tremendous skills of Mookie Betts.
Congratulations to all the 2023 Silver Slugger Award winners.
And a special tip of the cap to Mookie Betts, who just keeps on slugging.