The 2022 Louisville Silver Slugger Award list of finalists was about as star-studded as there’s been in Major League Baseball in a number of years, and for the Los Angeles Angels, Mike Trout has represented them well, capturing his ninth Silver Slugger in his 12-year career.
The winners, voted on by both MLB managers and coaches, were announced on Thursday via MLB Network. Each position, plus three outfielders in each league, with one utility player, makes up the field for the award.
In just 119 games this season, Trout slugged 40 home runs, which accounted for half of his 80 RBI. His .999 on-base percentage was the fifth-best of his career, but his .630 slugging was the second-best mark, and if he were to have played a full season, Trout would’ve cleared his all-time numbers.
Trout is still under contract with the Angels through 2030, which would be his age-38 season, and with a base salary of around $35.5 million, he seems like a bargain. A full no-trade clause mixed in, with zero opt-outs means he is already locked in to be the Angels franchise player for a long, long time.
Which is another reason why his 2022 season when matched up against other Silver Slugger winners is so remarkable. Among outfielders with 450 plate appearances, Trout ranked third with a 176 wRC+.
The San Diego Padres were most represented in this year’s class, with three winners, and the Houston Astros led the American League with two recipients.
Here are the 2022 Silver Slugger Award winners:
First base
AL: Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
NL: Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Second base
AL: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
NL: Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
Shortstop
AL: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
NL: Trea Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
Third base
AL: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
NL: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Outfield
AL: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees; Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners; Mike Trout, Angels
NL: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers; Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies; Juan Soto, Washington Nationals & San Diego Padres
Catcher
AL: Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
NL: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
Designated Hitter
AL: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
NL: Josh Bell, Nationals & Padres
Utility
AL: Luis Arraez, Minessota Twins
NL: Brandon Drury, Cincinnati Reds & Padres
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