The Silver Slugger winners were announced today and two Cubans ended up winning in their respective positions. Luis Robert (OF) and Yandy Díaz (1B) were the two Antilleans that ended up taking home the award after stellar seasons. For each player it was the first time winning this distinguished prize.
This year’s AL Batting Champion Díaz is also amongst the finalists at first base for the All-MLB squad. The 32-year-old first baseman hit edged out Kyle Seager (.327) for the crown giving a Cuba its second AL batting champion in the last three years, Yuli Gurriel won the title in 2021 with the Houston Astros. Díaz joins a list that also includes him, Tony Oliva and Gurriel as the only three Cubans to win the title in the junior circuit.
Now getting back to a year of firsts for Díaz he also made his first All-Star appearance, hit his first longball in the mid-summer classic and also hit more than 20 homeruns in a campaign. His 78 runs batted in were also a career for the slugger as was his .522 slugging percentage, this placed him fourth in the AL in that statistical category.
The Antillean also placed in the top 10 of the American League in OPS (.932), runs (95) and OBP (.410), but to top it all off he had his greatest first, he also became a father for the first time when his wife gave birth to their first child the day after this year’s All-Star game.
Yandy Díaz es el ganador del Bate de Plata 2023. Mejor bateador ofensivo de la primera base en la Liga Americana.
1B cubanos ganadores del Bate de Plata:
-Rafael Palmeiro (1998) AL
-José Abreu (2014, 18, 20) AL
-Yandy Díaz (2023) AL pic.twitter.com/0A0y1TzrLE— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) November 9, 2023
Luis Robert swatted 38 homeruns in his own right leaving him second amongst Cubans, only Adolis García ( 39) hit more longballs than the talent outfielder from Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. In total Robert swatted 36 doubles and a triple giving him 75 extra-base hits , which was more than half than his 144 total base knocks on the season.
“La Pantera” as he known by the Cuban faithful was eight in the big leagues in slugging (.542), fifth in the American League in OPS (.857) and still managed to steal 20 bases giving him the first 20/20 season of his career. Robert managed to garner 296 total bases on the campaign.
In the first season of his career in which he played more than 120 games and Robert had his best year as a professional. He becomes the third Cuban outfielder to win the Silver Slugger, José Canseco and Yoenis Céspedes are the other two.
Luis Robert Jr. corona su 2023 consagratorio con el Bate de Plata 2023 en la Liga Americana.
Jardineros (OF) nacidos en Cuba ganadores del Bate de Plata:
-José Canseco (1988, 90, 91) AL
-Yoenis Céspedes (2016) NL
-Luis Robert Jr. (2023) AL pic.twitter.com/pkqCXoeLpn— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) November 9, 2023
American League:
Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
First Base: Yandy Díaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Second Base: Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
Third Base: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
Outfield: Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Outfield: Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Utility: Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Team: Texas Rangers
National League:
Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
First Base: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Second Base: Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
Third Base: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
Outfield: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Outfield: Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
Designated Hitter: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Utility: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
Team: Atlanta Braves