Shohei Ohtani named Silver Slugger along with teammates Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez while Dodgers claim team award
Shohei Ohtani collected his first individual honor of the season after winning the Silver Slugger award for the DH position in the National League. His teammates Teoscar Hernandez and Mookie Betts also received the honor, while the Los Angeles Dodgers won the team award for being the most powerful offensive unit this year.
Shohei Ohtani was named a Silver Slugger for a third time on Tuesday, having already won the accolade twice during his six-year stint with the Los Angeles Angels. The Japanese superstar celebrated the occasion on social media with a post on his Instagram account.
Incidentally, Ohtani won the MVP in both those years and he is the overwhelming favorite to get that honor in the NL this season.
Hernandez won the award for one of the three outfield positions and this is the second time that he has earned it. Betts has won the award for the seventh time, but it's the first time he received it as a utility player.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers were widely considered to have had the strongest batting lineup this season and received the team award after the offense helped them to the World Series title. The reigning World Series champions are the only NL team with multiple Silver Slugger winners this year.
Shohei Ohtani's outstanding first season with Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani had undergone elbow reconstruction surgery towards the end of last season before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent on a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract. Ohtani was unavailable to pitch this year, allowing him to focus solely on hitting. He produced one of the best offensive seasons in MLB history in his limited role as a designated hitter.
In August, Ohtani became only the sixth player in the major leagues to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season. A month later he became the first player to reach the 50-50 club. Ohtani led the NL in nearly every batting category, and he ended the regular season with 54 home runs, 59 stolen bases, and 130 RBIs.
Moreover, Shohei Ohtani played a major role for the Dodgers in their run to the World Series title. He batted 14-76 in the postseason with three home runs, 10 RBIs, and an OPS of .767, although he injured his shoulder during the Fall Classic, which hampered his production in the series.