HOUSTON, TX - Louisville Slugger announced tonight that Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve has won his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award as the top offensive second baseman in the American League. Altuve is now the first player in franchise history to win three straight Silver Slugger Awards and is just the third to win at least three in a career, joining Craig Biggio (1989, 1994-95, 1997-98) and Jeff Bagwell (1994, 1997, 1999).
Established in 1980, the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards are the top offensive honors in Major League Baseball. Managers and coaches of all 30 Major League teams vote for the players they feel are the best offensive producers at each position in both the American and National Leagues.
Altuve won the AL batting title with a .338 (216x640) average in 2016, while posting 108 runs scored, 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. In addition to leading all American League players in batting average, he also led the circuit in hits, while ranking tied for second in stolen bases, third in WAR (7.6), tied for third in doubles, fourth in OBP, fourth in total bases (340) and fifth in OPS. On top of his well-rounded season, Altuve took home two AL awards in 2016, the AL Player of the Month for June and the AL Player of the Week for the week of April 11-17.
His historic season is one of the best by a second baseman in Major League history, as he became the first second baseman to reach 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 95 RBI and 30 steals in a single season. He's just the fifth player in Major League history to reach all of those marks, regardless of position. By winning the batting title for the second time in the last three seasons, Altuve became the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five between the 1969-75 seasons.
There have been 10 Astros who have won a Silver Slugger Award: Altuve (2014-16), outfielder Carlos Lee (2007), third baseman Morgan Ensberg (2005), left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton (1999), outfielder Moises Alou (1998), Bagwell (first base in 1994, 1997, 1999), Biggio (catcher in 1989, second baseman in 1994-95, 1997-98), first baseman Glenn Davis (1986), outfielder Jose Cruz (1983-84) and shortstop Dickie Thon (1983).
This announcement continues a busy awards season for Altuve, who began the week being named a finalist for the AL MVP Award on Monday. Last night, Altuve cleaned up at the Players Choice Awards, being named the MLB Player of the Year and the AL Most Outstanding Player, while also taking home the Majestic "Always Game" Award. Earlier this offseason, Altuve was named the 2016 Sporting News Player of the Year, an award which is voted on by players from both leagues and given to the Major League player who had the most outstanding season.
-ASTROS-