These voters consider several offensive statistics, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, as well as their "general impressions of a player's overall offensive value".[1] They are not permitted to vote for players on their team.[1]
The award is a bat-shaped trophy, three feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league[1] and plated with sterling silver.[2] It is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats.[3]
Ten Silver Slugger Awards are given each year per league individually. One each goes to a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Three outfielders receive the award, irrespective of their specific position;[4][5] for instance, three left fielders could win the award in a given year. One award goes to a designated hitter (a player who bats in place of the pitcher) and one to a utility player (a player who can play multiple fielding positions).[6][7][8] Additionally, since 2023, a Silver Slugger is also awarded to “the best offensive team” in each league.[9]
Pitchers in the National League received a Silver Slugger Award each year until 2019 and in 2021. In the COVID-shortened2020 season, MLB allowed National League teams to use a designated hitter, so an NL DH received a Silver Slugger Award for the first time.[10] In 2022, MLB permanently allowed both leagues to use the DH. That year also saw the introduction of the Utility Player Award.
Home run record-holder Barry Bonds[11] won 12 Silver Slugger Awards, the most of any player,[5][12] and won the award in five consecutive seasons twice: from 1990 to 1994, and again from 2000 to 2004. Mike Piazza and Alex Rodriguez are tied for second, with ten each.[4][5] Piazza is also the winningest catcher, having won all ten playing at the position. Rodriguez won seven Silver Sluggers as a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, and three with the Yankees as a third baseman.[13]Wade Boggs leads third basemen with eight awards;[4][14]Barry Larkin leads shortstops with nine.[5][15] Other leaders include Jose Altuve, who is tied with Ryne Sandberg (seven wins as a second baseman),[5][16]Mike Hampton (five wins as a pitcher),[5][17] and Paul Goldschmidt (five wins as a first baseman).[18]David Ortiz has won seven awards as a designated hitter, the most at that position.[19] In 2018, J. D. Martinez collected two Silver Slugger Awards: one as a designated hitter and the other as an outfielder, becoming the only player to win twice in one year. In 2021, Max Fried became the final pitcher to win a Silver Slugger Award.
Key
Year
Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season
(^) = A universal designated hitter rule was implemented temporarily during the 2020 MLB season and was fully implemented starting in 2022; the National League awarded its first Silver Slugger for DH in 2020. No award for pitchers was given.