Luis Robert Jr. set profession highs in practically each offensive class in 2023.
The Chicago White Sox middle fielder obtained recognition Thursday for the massive season, being named an American League Silver Slugger Award winner for outfielders.
Robert and Cody Bellinger, who had an amazing bounce-back season with the Cubs, had been amongst these honored in voting executed by main league managers and coaches. Bellinger gained within the National League utility participant class after spending time in middle subject and first base.
Robert is a first-time award winner, and the primary Sox participant to be acknowledged for the reason that trio of José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Eloy Jiménez within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. It’s the primary ever by a Sox middle fielder.
“This is one of the most beautiful awards I’ve received,” Robert mentioned via an interpreter throughout a video convention name Thursday. “I dreamed of a Gold Glove, I gained a Gold Glove (in 2020). I dreamed of a Silver Slugger and now I’ve the Silver Slugger. It’s particular.
“Of course, I want to win more accolades, but the most important one for me is to get a World Series ring. That’s what really matters and that’s what really drives me.”
Robert, 26, slashed .264/.315/.542 with 36 doubles, 38 dwelling runs, 80 RBIs, 90 runs, 20 stolen bases and an .857 OPS in 145 video games. The doubles, dwelling runs, RBIs, runs and stolen base totals are career-bests for Robert, who additionally earned All-Star honors for the primary time.
Bellinger signed a one-year cope with the Cubs final offseason and regained his prime kind, slashing .307/.356/.525 with 29 doubles, 26 dwelling runs, 97 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 130 video games.
It’s his second Silver Slugger, after profitable it throughout his NL MVP season of 2019 as an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Javier Báez was the final Cubs participant to earn a Silver Slugger Award, for second base in 2018.
Bellinger, 28, returns to free company as one of many prime gamers in the marketplace after declining his finish of a mutual possibility for 2024.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson and outfielder Seiya Suzuki had been Silver Slugger Award finalists at their respective positions. Bellinger was additionally a finalist as an outfielder.
Bellinger ranked fourth within the NL in common, seventh in slugging and eighth in OPS (. 881).
Robert was tied for second within the AL in extra-base hits (75), third in dwelling runs and slugging proportion, fifth in OPS (. 857), seventh in complete bases (296) and OPS+ (103.1) and tied for ninth in doubles.
“This is the result of all the preparation, all the work I did for the past season,” Robert mentioned.
He mentioned the house run quantity stood out.
“I was able to hit 30-plus homers in the minors (32 in 2019) but couldn’t in the majors because of injuries and things,” Robert mentioned. “It was a number in my mind. I really wanted to get to 30 or over 30. I was able to do it and am very proud of that.”
Robert missed the ultimate six video games of the season after struggling a light left knee MCL sprain on Sept. 24 in Boston.
“I saw the doctors this past Monday and everything went well,” he mentioned. “I start next week being able to do what I usually do in the offseason. I was doing therapy until last Monday, but once I get the green light from the doctors I’m going to start doing what I usually do starting next week.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com