Giants' Buster Posey wins Silver Slugger Award for the fourth time in his career
Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants earns his fourth Silver Slugger Award (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Buster Posey was honored with the 2017 Silver Slugger Award for the fourth time in his career. The honor acknowledges him as having the best bat amongst National League catchers.
Posey hit .320 with a .400 on-base percentage and .462 slugging percentage. Yankees’ Gary Sanchez had a higher slugging percentage (.531), but Posey led all other catchers in the others, including on-base plus slugging (.861). Posey notched 34 doubles and hit a career low 12 home runs – 11th in the rankings amongst catchers.
And despite the career low home run figure, it was his most productive year at the plate since his 2012 MVP season when he won the National League batting title.
Any award attributed to the 2017 Giants should be relished, and one that involves the word “slugger” should particularly be cherished, given the Giants were second to last in batting stats.
The Giants didn’t hit home runs, and Posey was no exception, but he was undoubtedly the team’s most consistent bat. He earned this award in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The only other Giant to be awarded with as many Silver Sluggers is Barry Bonds, he had nine in San Francisco, 12 total for his career.