Cuban baseball has a strong presence among the Silver Slugger nominees, with Miguel Vargas, Yordan Álvarez, Sal Stewart, Randy Arozarena and Zach Neto in contention for one of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious offensive honors.
The group brings together three Cuban-born players and two Cuban-Americans, representing five organizations across both leagues. Their nominations highlight the reach of Cuban talent and heritage throughout the majors, from established stars to a younger generation building its reputation.
The Silver Slugger recognizes offensive excellence by position, making a nomination a significant acknowledgment of a player’s work at the plate.
Álvarez and Arozarena headline the group.
Houston Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez brings an imposing offensive presence to the list. His combination of power and plate discipline has made him a central figure in Houston’s lineup and one of the most recognizable Cuban players in the sport.
For Álvarez, the nomination presents another opportunity to add to his individual accomplishments while representing the island where his baseball journey began. The slugger from Las Tunas, Cuba was the American League batting champion and also led the circuit in slugging, OPS, on base percentage and OPS+. He also led MLB in WPA making him the odds on favorite for the American League Most Valuable Player.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena also gives the group an established name. Known for his power, speed and energetic style, Arozarena can influence an offense in several ways. Arozarena had the most complete season of his career slashing .281/.381/.484/.865, while homering 26 times, driving in 79 runs and stealing 26 bases en route to hia sixth straight 20-20 season.
His nomination places him alongside fellow Cuban-born players Álvarez and Vargas, giving the island representation from Houston, Seattle and Chicago.
Vargas earns recognition in Chicago.
Miguel Vargas represents the Chicago White Sox among the nominees. His inclusion brings attention to his offensive contributions and gives Chicago a place in this group of players with Cuban connections.
Vargas who was a first time All-Star homered 33 times on the season and knocked in 93 runs while also stealing 20 bases. The native of Havana also scored 106 runs and slashed .250/.363/.474/.837.
For Vargas, the nomination is an individual distinction within an organization with a long history of Cuban players. His name now joins those of his countrymen in the competition for an award centered on production at the plate.
Stewart and Neto represent Cuban-American talent.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart and Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto round out the group, extending its representation to players born in the United States with Cuban roots. Stewart who is the odds on favorite for the Rookie of the Year in the National League led all rookies in RBIs with 112 and was amongst the leaders with 32 longballs.
Stewart’s nomination adds another dimension to Cincinnati’s presence in the awards conversation. For the young hitter, being considered for a Silver Slugger offers recognition alongside established offensive performers.
Neto gives the Angels a representative in the group and underscores the contributions of Cuban-American players throughout MLB. His inclusion also illustrates how the story of Cuban baseball reaches beyond birthplace.
The Miami-born shortstop had his third straight 20-20 season as a professional drove in 77 runs and scored 102 runs placing him fifth in the American League in that statistical category.
Together, the five nominees connect different backgrounds, organizations and stages of their careers. Earning a nomination does not guarantee a trophy, but it places each player in the conversation for a distinguished offensive honor.
For fans following Cuban baseball, the list offers five names to watch—and another reason to celebrate the influence of Cuban-born and Cuban-American talent on the major league game.