Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson is among the nine American League outfield finalists for a Silver Slugger Award, Louisville Slugger announced on Thursday.
If Simpson takes home the hardware -- the winners will be announced on Nov. 17 -- he would become just the third non-pitcher to win a Silver Slugger Award in a season in which they hit zero home runs, joining Ozzie Smith (1987) and Pete Rose (1981).
Of note, the Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980.
Simpson is a worthy finalist. His .306 batting average was fourth highest among qualified hitters behind Yordan Alvarez, Gabriel Moreno and Luis Arrarez. He wreaked havoc with a contact-oriented approach -- touting the second-lowest strikeout rate (7.8%) among qualifiers -- and caused chaos on the basepaths, notching the second-most stolen bases (46) in baseball.
He was also the only qualified hitter without a home run.
In 1981, Rose, a 17-time All-Star, became the first player to win a Silver Slugger Award in a season in which they did not hit a home run. He hit .325 in 107 games with the Phillies to capture the accolade as the NL’s best offensive first baseman.
Six years later, Smith gave Rose some company. A Hall of Famer and a 15-time All-Star, The Wizard was known more for his glove than his bat, winning just one Silver Slugger Award. He hit .303 in ‘87, his highest batting average in a single season in his decorated 19-year career.
Simpson winning a Silver Slugger Award would actually be even more remarkable than Rose or Smith. That’s because at the time of winning, Rose had crushed 155 career home runs, while Smith had 13 long balls to his name.
But Simpson has never hit a home run at the Major League level. He is more than halfway towards reaching a Live Ball Era (since 1920) record for the most plate appearances in a big league career without a single homer. Simpson would become the sixth player to win a Silver Slugger while having zero career home runs at the time of receiving the award; he would be the first non-pitcher to do so.
Here’s the group of players that Simpson would join:
• Max Fried, ATL (2021)
• Mike Hampton, NYM (2000)
• Mike Hampton, HOU (1999)
• Orel Hershiser, LAD (1993)
• Tom Glavine, ATL (1991)
• Fernando Valenzuela, LAD (1981)
In addition to Simpson, this year’s nine-player finalist pool for the AL outfield includes Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox), Randy Arozarena (Mariners), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Jac Caglianone (Royals), Chase DeLauter (Guardians), Riley Greene (Tigers), Tristan Peters (White Sox) and Mike Trout (Angels).
Only three will win a Silver Slugger. If it’s Simpson, he’ll make a fun bit of history, too.