It’s official: Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners has been named the winner of the American League Silver Slugger Award for 2020! This award is given annually to the top offensive players in each league, and Rodriguez is the first Mariner to win it since Nelson Cruz in 2018.
Rodriguez, a 20-year-old rookie, had an impressive season for the Mariners. He hit .333 with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs in just 54 games. He also had an impressive .927 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). His performance was even more impressive considering he was the youngest player in the American League this season.
The Silver Slugger Award is voted on by Major League Baseball coaches and managers. They take into account a player’s offensive performance, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage. Rodriguez was a clear choice for the award, as he led all American League rookies in batting average and OPS.
Rodriguez is the first Mariner to win the Silver Slugger Award since Nelson Cruz in 2018. He joins a list of Mariners greats who have won the award, including Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Ichiro Suzuki.
This is just the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Rodriguez this season. He was also named the American League Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Mariner to win that award since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989.
The Silver Slugger Award is a great honor for Rodriguez and the Mariners organization. It’s a testament to his hard work and dedication to the game of baseball. We can’t wait to see what he does next season!
