Rangers INF Josh Smith announced as winner of 2024 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award
Arlington, Texas — Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award at the utility position in the American League. The announcement was made on Tuesday night during a televised awards show on MLB Network.
The Silver Slugger Award is presented each year by Louisville Slugger to the top offensive players at each position in the American and National Leagues. Votes are cast by the manager and coaches for each MLB club.
This signifies Smith’s first career Silver Slugger Award and first time for a Ranger to claim the honor at the utility position since the category was introduced in 2022. Combined with the Rangers’ Silver Slugger Award wins in 2022 (Nathaniel Lowe, 1B) and 2023 (Corey Seager, SS; Marcus Semien, 2B), this marks the first time for the club to feature at least one winner in three consecutive seasons since 2010-12. Additionally, Texas has four Silver Slugger Award winners in the last three seasons, surpassing its total from the previous 11 years from 2011-21 (3).
Smith, who turned 27 on August 7, produced career highs in all four slash categories (.258/.337/.394/.731), home runs (13), RBI (62), walks (46), runs (67), hits (135), and doubles (30) in 2024, ranking among A.L. hitters in times hit by pitch (5th, 18), doubles (T17th), and on-base percentage (18th). He batted .315/.409/.460/.869 (39-124) with runners in scoring position, ranking among A.L.’s best with RISP in OBP (9th), BA (13th), and hits (T13th). The left-handed batter slashed .286/.345/.429/.774 (36-126) versus left-handed pitching, boasting the 4th-highest qualified BA against LHP among left-handed batters in the A.L. Only Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (.362), Cleveland’s Steven Kwan (.319), and teammate Nathaniel Lowe (.292) posted higher marks.
The 2024 recipient of the Rangers’ Richard Durrett Hardest Working Player Award, Smith appeared in a career-high 149 games, making 135 starts at third base (76), shortstop (41), designated hitter (13), leftfield (4), and rightfield (1). He started 69 of 102 games at third base while Josh Jung was on the Injured List from April 2-July 28. Smith reached base via hit, walk, or hit by pitch in 109 of his 135 starts, including 17 consecutive from April 12-May 2.
Two other Rangers who were selected as finalists for 2024 Silver Slugger Awards did not win: second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager.