Ian Desmond earns Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award for NL shortstops

Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond tonight was named the recipient of the 2013 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger for National League shortstops. The Silver Slugger citation is the second of Desmond's career. He earned his initial Silver Slugger last season.

Desmond hit .280 with a career-high 38 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 80 RBI and 21 stolen bases to garner the annual award that recognizes the top offensive producer at every position in each league.

"I play the game the way I do out of respect for the players who came before me," said Desmond. "It's an honor to be selected for the Silver Slugger and it is humbling to know that it is voted on by National League managers and coaches."   

Desmond is one of just six big leaguers to earn a Silver Slugger Award in both 2012 and '13. Desmond joins Andrew McCutchen (NL, outfielder), Jay Bruce (NL, outfielder), Robinson Cano (AL, second base), Miguel Cabrera (AL, third base) and Mike Trout (AL, outfielder) on that short list. 

Desmond also joins Derek Jeter (5), Hanley Ramirez (2) and Troy Tulowitzki (2) as the only current shortstops to win multiple Silver Sluggers.

The longest-tenured player in the Nationals organization, Desmond was one of only nine big leaguers --- and baseball's lone infielder --- to attain 20-homer, 20-stolen base status in 2013.

The 28-year-old Desmond paced MLB shortstops with 61 extra-base hits and 12 game-winning RBI. His 28 RBI in June established a new Nationals record for a single month. Desmond also set career-high in both walks (43) and games played (158) this season for Washington.

Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman (2009, '10) are the Nationals' only two-time recipients of the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.