Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts win Silver Sluggers
By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts were both named Silver Slugger winners in the American League Thursday night, honoring two of the anchors of the Red Sox lineup as the best hitters at their positions in the Junior Circuit.
Bogaerts batted .309 with a career-high 33 home runs and drove in 117. He put up a .939 OPS. The 27-year-old is the most decorated offensive shortstop in Red Sox history with three Silver Sluggers. He previously won in 2015 and 2016.
John Valentin (1995) and Nomar Garciaparra (1997) are the only other Red Sox shortstops to win a Silver Slugger.
Betts hit .295 with 29 homers, 80 RBI, and a .915 OPS. This is also his third Silver Slugger, with wins in 2016 and 2018.
The full winners are below.
American League:
Catcher: Mitch Garver (Twins)
First base: Carlos Santana (Indians)
Second base: D.J. LeMahieu (Yankees)
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox)
Third base: Alex Bregman (Astros)
Outfield: Mookie Betts (Red S0x), George Springer (Astros), Mike Trout (Angels)
Designated hitter: Nelson Cruz (Twins)
National League:
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto
First base: Freddie Freeman (Braves)
Second base: Ozzie Albies (Braves)
Shortstop: Trevor Story (Rockies)
Third base: Anthony Rendon: (Nationals)
Outfield: Ronald Acuna Jr (Braves), Cody Bellinger (Dodgers), Christian Yelich (Brewers)
Pitcher: Zach Greinke (Diamondbacks)* Traded to Houston on July 31
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.
