Luis Arraez Earned a 2022 Silver Slugger Award

[Seth Stohs]

The offseason accolades continue for Twins utilityman Luis Arraez. On Thursday, he was officially named the 2022 American League Silver Slugger Award winner for a utility player. 

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

 

Luis Arraez became the fifth Twins player to win an American League batting title when he hit .316 over 144 games in 2022. He joined Hall of Famers Tony Oliva (3), Rod Carew (7) and Kirby Puckett (1), along with future Hall of Famer Joe Mauer as batting champs. He was an All Star in 2022. He was named a finalist for a Gold Glove at first base. 

Tonight, he becomes the first Twins player since Nelson Cruz took home the Silver Slugger for DH in 2020. The 25-year-old from Venezuela hit .316/.375/.420 (795) with 31 doubles, a triple and eight home runs. He also walked 50 times and struck out just 43 times. His eight home runs are two more than he had hit over his previous three seasons. 

The Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winners are voted on by MLB managers and coaches. They are based on offensive stats including OBP, OPS, OPS+, home runs, hits, RBI, batting average as well as "managers' and coaches' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value." 

 

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[Parfigliano]

Congrats.  Front office get him some help.

[Blyleven2011]

When did they start voting for a silver slugger award ...

I always thought if you had the highest batting average at a position you won the award ...

Have I been wrong thinking this ...

Nice going major leaguer ( arraez ) ...

It's a pleasure watching you play and hit ...

[Cris E]

I was kind of hoping he'd get it at first base, like the gold glove nomination.  Those 8 hr would have looked sweeeet up there next to all those stats from previous winners. 

[Fritzderkat]

Good on ya, Luis. It's a pleasure watching you play.

[Seth Stohs]

4 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

When did they start voting for a silver slugger award ...

I always thought if you had the highest batting average at a position you won the award ...

Have I been wrong thinking this ...

Nice going major leaguer ( arraez ) ...

It's a pleasure watching you play and hit ...

It's always been voted upon. Maybe the numbers or how much the managers and coaches look at has changed, but it's definitely never been about just batting average.  

[h2oface]

Looks like the awards platforms are confused, and inconsistent. For GG he is a First Baseman, even though there is a GG for Utility. For Silver Slugger he is a Utility Player, even though there is a Silver Slugger for a First Baseman, And, really, in what type of advanced stat can Arraez be considered ....... a "slugger",

It would really be something if he would have won a GG as a DH. That would truly be noteworthy!  

[Jeff D.]

As he should have. He will only improve from here. A quiet star in MLB.

Good for him!

Congratulations!

Twins Geezer out!

[mikelink45]

I wrote a forum about Silver Sluggers because of this posting.  I tried to pick the all-time silver slugger for each position - their best year is all I counted - not lifetime achievement.  The question I have is about utility Silver Slugger - I do not remember this ever being a choice in the past. 

[jjswol]

Congrats to Luis Arraez, he truly earned it.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Congratulations to a great player. Rod Carew must be very proud. I know I am.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I wrote a forum about Silver Sluggers because of this posting.  I tried to pick the all-time silver slugger for each position - their best year is all I counted - not lifetime achievement.  The question I have is about utility Silver Slugger - I do not remember this ever being a choice in the past. 

I don't know the genesis of it, but perhaps in modern baseball, some utility players are getting as much play time as starters, but maybe not as much in one position? If that's the case, then they should be considered in some category. But it is weird to me, as pointed out above, that he would be considered utility for one award and 1st base for another. 

[Blyleven2011]

19 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

It's always been voted upon. Maybe the numbers or how much the managers and coaches look at has changed, but it's definitely never been about just batting average.  

Thanks , I guess I always assumed it was given to the highest average at each positions 

[stringer bell]

On 11/11/2022 at 8:05 AM, mikelink45 said:

I wrote a forum about Silver Sluggers because of this posting.  I tried to pick the all-time silver slugger for each position - their best year is all I counted - not lifetime achievement.  The question I have is about utility Silver Slugger - I do not remember this ever being a choice in the past. 

I believe it was the first time they have a Silver Slugger for a utility player. 

[stringer bell]

I couldn't find an ideal place to post this thought. Given the prospects the Twins have who are near ready, and their skills, it may be an ideal time to trade Luis Arraez. There are still three years of service time remaining, he's coming off a batting champion and Silver Slugger season and he's young (25 all of next season). I don't think his value will get much higher.

Two prospects (Martin and Julien) are close to being ready. Both supply speed and Julien has power potential. Both guys look like OBP will be part of their game and will need a place to play. In addition to Martin and Julien, the top two position player prospects (Lewis and Lee) are also infielders.

Luis Arraez is elite at what he does. He takes great at-bats, seldom strikes out and will probably be a .300 hitter for the rest of the decade. He also showed he is reliable in the field. His defensive numbers at both second and first were good last year. I believe if he played regularly at third, he'd be fine there. There are things Arraez is not--he's not going to hit for much power and he will never be speedy. In addition, he's dealt with a lot of leg injuries for a 24-year old. Finally, his second half last year was pedestrian. His walk rate was only about half of the rate in the first half. He also had an OPS of only .685 versus left handed pitching. 

An Arraez trade would have to net the Twins quite a bit--proven MLB talent or elite prospects. It also would be a hard sell to the fan base, so I don't know if it will happen, but if I'm the Twins' brass I'd certainly consider it.