The winners of the 2023 MLB Silver Slugger awards in each league have been revealed.
Once again, San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto claimed one of the awards from the National League outfielders group, his fourth straight.
By doing so, he made history and joined Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout as the only players to win four before turning 25.
“Most Silver Slugger awards before turning 25, age as of end of regular season: Juan Soto: 4, Mike Trout: 4,” MLB stats expert Sarah Langs tweeted.
most Silver Slugger awards before turning 25, age as of end of regular season:
Juan Soto: 4
Mike Trout: 4 https://t.co/P9DpaK24gk— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 9, 2023
Soto is currently 25, but he was 24 when the regular season ended so he qualifies.
Soto is entering his last year of arbitration eligibility, and he is expected to make around $33 million.
After that, he will be a free agent and sign one of the richest contracts in baseball history.
He will be one of the league’s highest-paid players because of his young age and the fact he is still entering his peak.
Additionally, the awards and recognitions he has won to this point will also enter the final equation.
For years, basically, he has performed at an MVP level.
From 2020 to 2023, he won the NL Silver Slugger as one of the league’s top outfielders.
In 2023, he had another excellent season, with a career-high 35 home runs, a .410 on-base percentage, and a 158 OPS+.
He also walked 132 times, becoming the first player since Barry Bonds to lead the league in bases on balls for three straight years.
There is an outside chance he is traded, either now or before the trade deadline in the summer, but he is equipped to succeed wherever he goes.
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