Louisville Slugger ® and MLB Network announced tonight that Eric Hosmer has received the American League’s 2017 Silver Slugger Award among first baseman. Hosmer is the 10th Royal (13th time) to earn the Silver Slugger honor and only the second first baseman, joining George Brett in 1988.
Hosmer, 28, hit .318/.385/.498 (192-for-603) in 2017, setting career highs in games played (162), runs (98, tied), hits, home runs (25, tied), batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He finished among the American League leaders in hits (second), average (third), on-base percentage (fourth) and multi-hit games (53, tied for fourth). On July 26 at Detroit, Hosmer went a career-best 5-for-5 with five runs, six RBI and his first career grand slam, becoming just the 13th player since 1913 to record five hits, five runs and six RBI in a single game.
Hosmer, who earned his fourth career Rawlings Gold Glove on Tuesday, is the seventh American League first baseman to earn a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award in the same season, joining Adrian Gonzalez (2011), Mark Teixeira (2005, ’09), Rafael Palmeiro (1998), Don Mattingly (1985-87), Eddie Murray (1983-84) and Cecil Cooper (1980).
Photo credit – Charlie Riedel / Associated Press / Kansas City, MO
