Paul Goldschmidt, David Peralta Win 2018 NL Silver Slugger® Awards™

Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt and OF David Peralta have been named 2018 Louisville Slugger® Silver Slugger Award™ recipients for the National League, as announced by Louisville Slugger. The award recognizes the players who were the best offensive producers at each position in both leagues as voted by Major League Baseball managers and coaches with selections based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the managers' and coaches' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value.
 
Goldschmidt, who also garnered the offensive honor in 2013, '15 and '17, is tied with Todd Helton and Albert Pujols (4 each) for the most Silver Slugger Awards by a first baseman since its inception in 1980. Goldschmidt ranked among NL leaders in BABIP (2nd, .359), OPS (3rd, .922), times on base (3rd, 268), game-winning RBI (T-5th, 13), on-base pct. (6th, .389), extra-base hits (6th, 73), walks (6th, 90), slugging pct. (7th, .533), runs scored (9th, 95) and go-ahead RBI (T-10th, 23).
 
The 6-time All-Star (2013-18) is the first player in team history to win the award in back-to-back seasons, and reached the 30-homer/100-RBI plateau for the fourth time (also: 2013, '15 and '17), extending his club record. Additionally, Goldschmidt was the first player in the liveball era (since 1920) to increase their average to .300 or higher in a season in which it was under .200 at some point after 200 plate appearances [source: Elias Sports Bureau].
 
Peralta won his first Silver Slugger Award and became the sixth Venezuela-born outfielder to receive the honor, joining Tony Armas (1984), Bobby Abreu (2004), Miguel Cabrera (2005), Magglio Ordóńez (2007) and Carlos González (2010, '15). Peralta ranked among NL players in average with runners in scoring position (2nd, .356), game-winning RBI (T-3rd, 14), slugging pct. (10th, .516), average (11th, .293), OPS (13th, .868), extra-base hits (T-14th, 60) and RBI (16th, 87).
 
He set career highs in plate appearances (614), hits (164), homers (30), RBI and walks (48), and was the sixth Arizona outfielder to reach the 30-homer milestone (stats at OF only) along with Steve Finley (1999-2000), Luis Gonzalez (2000-01), Reggie Sanders (2001), Chris Young (2007) and Justin Upton (2011).
 
From 2017-18, Peralta's 30-RBI increase (57-to-87) was tied for the second highest in the Majors among qualified players (min. 502 PA) with Jed Lowrie/OAK (69-to-99), while his 16-homer upsurge (14-to-30) was second to only Christian Yelich/MIA-MIL (18-to-36).
 
Goldschmidt and Peralta's awards marked the second time the D-backs boasted multiple Silver Slugger winners (also: 2011 - Upton and RHP Daniel Hudson) and first time the club had 2 position players garner the honor.