Trout earns second straight Silver Slugger Award
First AL player to win back-to-back honors in first two seasons
ANAHEIM -- Two full seasons in the big leagues, two Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards for the 22-year-old Mike Trout.
His second was announced on Wednesday -- although it surprised nobody -- when Trout joined Orioles center fielder Adam Jones and Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter as representatives in the American League outfield.
Trout -- a year removed from being the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year and a runner-up for the Most Valuable Player Award -- posted a .323/.432/.557 slash line in his sophomore season, leading the AL in runs (109) and walks (110), setting a franchise record for on-base percentage and easily leading the Majors in WAR for a second straight season (10.4), all while adding 27 homers, 97 RBIs, 33 steals and 190 hits.
Trout is the first player in AL history to win the award in each of his first two seasons in the big leagues, and is the fourth Angels player to win it multiple times, joining Troy Glaus (2000-01), Garret Anderson (2003-04) and Vladimir Guerrero (2004-07).
Since 1980, the Silver Slugger Award has been handed out annually for the best offensive player at each position in each league and is determined by a vote of Major League coaches and managers (neither of whom are allowed to vote for players on their own teams).
Trout was named Baseball America Player of the Year for a second straight time earlier this offseason and was once again named a finalist for the AL MVP on Tuesday, joining Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network at 3 p.m. PT on Nov. 14.