2026 Silver Slugger Finalists: Full List and the Races to Watch
The short version: Louisville Slugger has announced the finalists for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards, which honor the best offensive player at each position in each league. Winners will be announced Tuesday, November 17. The biggest storylines include Mike Trout chasing a 10th Silver Slugger, Chandler Simpson trying to win without a single home run, and a loaded DH race in both leagues.
How Are Silver Slugger Winners Chosen?
Major League managers and coaches vote for the best hitter at each position in their own league, and they can’t vote for their own players. The award dates back to 1980. A utility category was added in 2022, and an Offensive Team of the Year award followed in 2023.
Who Are the 2026 American League Silver Slugger Finalists?
Catcher: Dillon Dingler (Tigers), Carter Jensen (Royals)
First base: Pete Alonso (Orioles), Willson Contreras (Red Sox)
Second base: Kody Clemens (Twins), Chase Meidroth (White Sox)
Third base: Junior Caminero (Rays), Miguel Vargas (White Sox)
Shortstop: Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), Zach Neto (Angels), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
Outfield: Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox), Randy Arozarena (Mariners), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Jac Caglianone (Royals), Chase DeLauter (Guardians), Riley Greene (Tigers), Tristan Peters (White Sox), Chandler Simpson (Rays), Mike Trout (Angels)
Designated hitter: Yordan Alvarez (Astros), Ben Rice (Yankees)
Utility: Sam Antonacci (White Sox), Ezequiel Duran (Rangers), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers)
Offensive Team of the Year: Astros, Rays, Twins, White Sox
Who Are the 2026 National League Silver Slugger Finalists?
Catcher: Hunter Goodman (Rockies), Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks)
First base: Jake Bauers (Brewers), Alec Burleson (Cardinals), Rafael Devers (Giants), Matt Olson (Braves)
Second base: Brandon Lowe (Pirates), Brice Turang (Brewers)
Third base: Alex Bregman (Cubs), Max Muncy (Dodgers)
Shortstop: CJ Abrams (Nationals), Elly De La Cruz (Reds), Otto Lopez (Marlins)
Outfield: Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Jackson Chourio (Brewers), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Seiya Suzuki (Cubs), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), James Wood (Nationals)
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers), Kyle Schwarber (Phillies)
Utility: Jake Bauers (Brewers), Sal Stewart (Reds), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)
Offensive Team of the Year: Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Nationals
What Are the Biggest Silver Slugger Races to Watch?
Can Mike Trout win his 10th Silver Slugger?
Trout is an outfield finalist after posting an .803 OPS in 142 games. A win would give him 10 Silver Sluggers, making him only the third player ever to reach that mark. For a player whose last several seasons were defined by injuries, just staying on the field long enough to be in this conversation is a story.
Can Chandler Simpson win without hitting a home run?
This is the most unusual case on either ballot. Simpson hit .306 and led the American League with 46 stolen bases, and he did it with zero home runs. Only two players have ever won a Silver Slugger in a season without a homer: Pete Rose and Ozzie Smith. Ozzie’s 1987 season, with 75 RBI and no home runs, came up in our Episode 381 zero-home-run trivia. Simpson winning would be a win for every fan who thinks contact and speed still count as offense.
Who wins the AL DH race, Yordan Alvarez or Ben Rice?
This might be the best head-to-head on the ballot. Alvarez hit 42 home runs and led the majors in batting average (.316) and slugging (.601), and he’s the favorite for AL MVP. Rice answered with 41 home runs and an .897 OPS. Alvarez is the safer pick, but Rice put together a season that would win most years.
Who wins the NL DH race, Shohei Ohtani or Kyle Schwarber?
Schwarber tied Pete Crow-Armstrong for the major league lead with 45 home runs. Ohtani, a four-time winner, slugged .512 with 30 homers. On raw power alone, this looks like Schwarber’s year to win his second Silver Slugger.
Who else is chasing history?
Bobby Witt Jr. is going for a third straight Silver Slugger at shortstop after an .800 OPS with 18 homers and 45 steals.
Alex Bregman is a finalist for the first time since 2019, his first year with the Cubs.
Alec Burleson and Hunter Goodman are each trying to repeat. Burleson led the majors with 116 RBI, and Goodman hit 41 home runs.
Gabriel Moreno won the NL batting title at .311, a rare feat for a catcher, and is also a Gold Glove winner this year.
Which Teams Are Up for Offensive Team of the Year?
American League: The Astros led the majors with 226 home runs, the White Sox scored a major-league-best 776 runs, the Rays had the AL’s best team batting average, and the Twins scored 739 runs.
National League: The Cubs posted the majors’ best team OPS (.767) with 220 home runs, the Brewers tied for the best team batting average (.258), the Dodgers posted a .762 OPS, and the Nationals slugged .423.
The White Sox are a fun case. They were nominated as the best offense in the AL after leading baseball in runs, the same offense that struck out 75 times in its five-game ALDS loss to Cleveland. We broke down that series in our Episode 375 recap.
When Are the 2026 Silver Slugger Winners Announced?
Winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 17. We’ll react to the results on Rounding Third, live Sunday and Thursday nights on YouTube and Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Silver Slugger Award?
The Silver Slugger Award, presented by Louisville Slugger, honors the best offensive player at each position in the American and National Leagues. It has been awarded since 1980.
Who votes for the Silver Slugger Awards?
Major League managers and coaches vote for players in their own league and cannot vote for their own team’s players.
Has anyone won a Silver Slugger without hitting a home run?
Yes. Pete Rose and Ozzie Smith both won Silver Sluggers in seasons with zero home runs. Chandler Simpson could become the third in 2026.
How many Silver Sluggers does Mike Trout have?
Trout has nine. A 10th in 2026 would make him only the third player to reach 10.
When are the 2026 Silver Slugger winners announced?
Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
Where can I hear more about the 2026 awards?
Catch the hosts’ takes on Rounding Third, read more in The Rounding Third Rundown, or explore every show on the Rounding Third Media Network.
