Rizzo, Arrieta take home Silver Slugger Awards
Third baseman Bryant, outfielder Fowler come up short as finalists at their positions
CHICAGO -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Jake Arrieta both won their first Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday.
The awards, presented by Louisville Slugger, are given to the top offensive performer at each position in each league, and they are voted on by managers and coaches. Rizzo and Arrieta are the first Cubs players to win the award since Aramis Ramirez did so in 2011, and Arrieta is the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Carlos Zambrano in '09.
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Rizzo finished second in the National League overall and first among first basemen with 109 RBIs. He hit .292 and matched a career high with 32 home runs. He also set career highs in slugging percentage (.544) and OPS (.928).
Earlier this week, Rizzo won his first Gold Glove Award, and he is the first Cubs player to win both awards in the same season since Derrek Lee did so in 2005. Other Cubs to win both awards in the same season include Ryne Sandberg (1984, '85, '88, '89, '90, '91) and Andre Dawson ('87).
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Arrieta, who went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA, finished second among NL pitchers with a .262 batting average, and he hit two home runs and collected seven RBIs.
Kris Bryant, who hit .292 with 39 home runs and 102 RBIs, was a finalist for the award among NL third basemen, but the Rockies' Nolan Arenado won.
Dexter Fowler, who led all NL outfielders in on-base percentage (.393), was a candidate after hitting .276 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs, but he did not win the award. The Rockies' Charlie Blackmon, the Marlins' Christian Yelich and the Mets' Yoenis Céspedes received the silver-bat trophies for NL outfielders.