Trio of Braves win first career Silver Sluggers
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The Braves were top 10 in the Majors this season in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, homers and runs per game, among other offensive categories, so it should come as little surprise that three of their hitters were awarded Silver Sluggers -- Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies. It’s the first career Silver Slugger Award for each of the three Braves hitters.
Three Silver Slugger-winning players is tied for the most the Braves have had in a season. In 2003, Gary Sheffield, Mike Hampton and Javy Lopez each won the honors. Overall, three is tied for the fourth-most by any team in a single season. The only three teams to win more Silver Sluggers in a year: the 1980 Cardinals, with five, and the 2002 and 1985 Yankees, with four each.
• These are your 2019 Silver Slugger winners
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At 21 years old, Acuña is one of just three outfielders to win a Silver Slugger at that young of an age, along with Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Trout. In his second year in the Majors in 2019, Acuña hit .280 with a .518 slugging percentage and 41 homers. He fell just three stolen bases shy of a 40-40 season, but his 37 still led the National League.
The 22-year-old Albies rebounded in 2019, his third Major League season, after a disappointing second half in 2018. He hit .295, slugged .500, cut down on his strikeout totals and walked more in 2019.
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Along with Acuña, the duo makes the 2019 Braves the first team to have two players win Silver Slugger Awards at 22 years old or younger in the same season.
At 30 years old, Freeman won his first career Silver Slugger in his 10th season in the Majors and ninth full season. He hit .295, slugged .549 and knocked 38 homers with 121 RBIs. Freeman won the award over Pete Alonso and Josh Bell, who had strong years at the plate as well.