Justin Upton wins 2017 Silver Slugger Award
Angels outfielder Justin Upton today was named a recipient of a 2017 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award which is given to the best offensive players at each position in both the American and National Leagues. The award is Upton's third career honor and the 22nd overall for the Angels. He was previously honored in 2013 with Arizona and in 2014 with Atlanta.
Upton becomes the eighth Angels outfielder to win a Silver Slugger, joining Reggie Jackson (1982), Tim Salmon (1995), Darin Erstad (2000), Garret Anderson (2002-03), Vladimir Guerrero (2004-07), Torii Hunter (2009) and Mike Trout (2012-16).
The Norfolk, VA native was acquired by the Angels on August 31, 2017 from Detroit in exchange for a player to be named later (RHP Elvin Rodriguez) and RHP Grayson Long. Last Thursday, he agreed to terms on a five-year contract to remain with the Angels through 2022
The left fielder completed his 11th big league campaign in 2017 with a combined batting average of .273 (152/557) with 100 runs scored, 44 doubles, 35 home runs, 109 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 152 games. He established career highs in doubles, extra-base hits (79), home runs (35), RBI (109), slugging percentage (.542) and OPS (.904). Among A.L. leaders, Upton ranked fourth in extra-base hits and RBI while finishing in Top 10 in runs (T7th), home runs (9th), doubles (T4th), slugging pct. (7th) and OPS (8th).
The Silver Slugger Award winners were determined by a vote of Major League Baseball coaches and managers who named the players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in both the American and National Leagues in 2017. Selections were based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value. Managers and coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own teams.