Enjoy these dingerific dingers from the 2016 NL Silver Slugger winners
There are just regular ol' sluggers and then ... there are Silver Sluggers. The 2016 winners were announced on Thursday night and we've compiled the National League dinger-makers below. Please enjoy.
(Check out the AL Silver Slugger winners right here). Want to make your voice heard? Click here to cast your vote for the Esurance MLB Awards.
C:
WILLLLLLLLSON! Yes, perhaps influenced by the legendary jam band'ers, Ramos won his first Silver Slugger with a career year in every offensive category. He hit .307, slugged at .496 and crushed 22 homers with 80 RBIs. He also dropped his lumber in style.
1B:
An All-Star appearance, a Gold Glove, a World Series ring and, now, Rizzo has received his first Silver Slugger Award. The Cubs first baseman led all at his position with 109 RBIs and knocked 32 out of the park.
2B:
Yes, it would've been weird to think this a season ago, but Daniel Murphy is now a Silver Slugger. The Nationals' second baseman continued his dinger-crushing ways from the Mets' 2015 postseason run, leading all NLers at his position in long balls (25), RBIs (104), SLG (.595) and OPS (.985).
SS:
As a 22-year-old rookie, Seager proved he's probably going to be very good for a very long time. He led all NL shortstops with 22 home runs, a .512 slugging percentage and an .877 OPS.
3B:
When you lead the league in homers (41) and RBIs (133), there's a pretty good chance you're going to be crowned a Silver Slugger. The Rockies' third baseman takes home his second consecutive honor (the only repeat winner on this list) and we're guessing there will be many, many more to come.
OF:
After never reaching 20 homers during his first five years in the league, Blackmon slugged 29 for the Rockies to win his first Silver bat -- slashing at a .324/.381/.552 rate. He also has a very girth-y beard.
OF:
Yelich bested his season-high in homers by 14 (21) and in RBIs by 54 (98). He was also fourth among qualified outfielders with an .859 OPS. And not only did his great season get him his first Silver Slugger Award, but it forced a Miami radio host to eat crow.
OF:
Cespedes put together another exceptional year in Queens -- hitting 31 homers, while slugging at a .530 rate with an .884 OPS. He even hit walk-off dingers to fans dressed as Simba ... after walking up to the plate to the Lion King theme.
P:
Last year, Arrieta won a Cy Young Award. This year, he wins his first Silver Slugger -- hitting .262 with two dingers and seven RBIs. One of those dingers may also still be orbiting the Earth.
