Royals catcher Salvador Perez wins third Silver Slugger Award

photo by: Associated Press

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez had been named an American League Silver Slugger Award winner for 2020, Louisville Slugger and MLB Network announced Thursday.

It marks Perez’s third such honor (2016, 2018) and he joins Hall of Famer George Brett as the only other Royal to earn three Silver Slugger Awards. He also becomes the 12th MLB catcher to earn the award three times or more and the first since Joe Mauer (2006, 2008-10, 2013).

A six-time All-Star and a five-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, Perez set career highs in batting average (.333) and slugging percentage (.633) in 2020. Despite playing in just 37 of 60 games, he led the Royals in homers (11) and go-ahead RBI (8), while ranking second in RBI (32) and extra-base hits (23).

Perez returned to the Royals after missing the entire 2019 season after Tommy John surgery on March 6, 2019. He was on the Injured List this season from Aug. 21-Sept. 11 with swelling in his left eye. From the time of his return to the end of the season, he ranked tied for second in the majors in RBI (20), extra-base hits (13) and total bases (50), was third in slugging (.806) and tied for third in homers (7). He led the Majors in batting average (.451, 23-for-51) from Sept. 11-24.

Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winners are decided by a vote of MLB managers and coaches who select the players they determine to be the best offensive producers at each position in the American and National Leagues.

Each team receives four votes — the manager and three coaches of their choice — and they base their votes on a combination of offensive statistics including batting average, on-base percentage, runs, RBI and slugging percentage, as well as the managers’ and coaches’ general impressions of a player’s overall offensive value.

Below is a list of the 10 Royals to win a Louisville Silver Slugger Award, which was first established in 1980.

George Brett – 1980, 1985, 1988 (1980 & ’85 at third base, 1988 at first base)

Salvador Perez – 2016, 2018, 2020 (catcher)

Willie Wilson – 1980, 1982 (outfield)

Hal McRae – 1982 (designated hitter)

Frank White – 1986 (second base)

Gary Gaetti – 1995 (third base)

Dean Palmer – 1998 (third base)

Billy Butler – 2012 (designated hitter)

Kendrys Morales – 2015 (designated hitter)

Eric Hosmer – 2017 (first base)

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