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Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene and Kevin McGonigle Named Silver Slugger Award Nominees
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- Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene and Kevin McGonigle Named Silver Slugger Award Nominees
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The final awards of MLB's award season will be handed out on Tuesday, November 17, when the Silver Slugger Award winners are announced.
The Silver Slugger Award honors the best offensive player at each position in both leagues, with voting conducted by MLB managers and coaches, who are not permitted to vote for players on their own teams.
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This year, three Detroit Tigers have been nominated as potential winners, giving the organization some well-deserved recognition despite a difficult season overall.
Dillon Dingler – Catcher
Dingler led the Tigers in home runs this season with 27, nearly doubling the 14 career home runs he had entering the year.
Dingler found another gear offensively and, for quite some time, was nearly single-handedly carrying the Tigers through one of the toughest stretches of their season.
He finished the year with 134 hits, 27 doubles and a team-high 91 RBIs. Dingler also earned his first-ever All-Star selection and even entered the MVP conversation before a tumultuous final six weeks of the season.
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Even after his late-season struggles, Dingler remained one of the best-hitting catchers in the league. He also continued to showcase his defensive prowess, earning his second consecutive Gold Glove Award earlier this year.
Riley Greene – Outfield
What a magnificent season it was for Greene, who continues to establish himself as one of the Tigers' premier offensive players.
Although his home run numbers dipped, Greene appeared to move away from the all-or-nothing approach and began consistently hitting the ball hard to all parts of the field.
Greene led the team with 32 doubles, trading some home run power for more production in the gaps. He finished second on the team in hits (143) and third in both home runs (21) and RBIs (75).
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His improved bat-to-ball ability also resulted in fewer strikeouts, dropping from 201 last season to 157 this year.
For the second time in his career, and the first time since his sophomore season, Greene finished with a .280 batting average.
He was a vital part of the Tigers' lineup, and when he missed two weeks with an injury just as Detroit had finally clawed its way back into playoff contention, the team spiraled. His absence showed just how important he is to the everyday lineup.
Kevin McGonigle – Shortstop and Utility
The rookie phenom , who appears to have the American League Rookie of the Year Award within reach, now has an opportunity to add a Silver Slugger Award to his growing list of accomplishments.
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McGonigle led the Tigers with 95 walks this season, compared to just 100 strikeouts. He made an immediate impression in the big leagues with an RBI double and never looked back.
Despite being just 21 years old for nearly the entirety of the season, McGonigle swung the bat like a seasoned veteran. His approach was reminiscent of Victor Martinez, with sharp, precise swings and an almost robotic ability to stay locked in on every pitch thrown his way.
McGonigle earned an All-Star selection in his first season and led the Tigers not only in walks but also in stolen bases (12) and runs scored (97).
He finished second on the team in doubles (28) and fourth in home runs (18), RBIs (72) and batting average (.278).
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McGonigle is already showing signs of an incredible career ahead, and his rookie season is just the beginning.
Three Tigers Earn Recognition
The Tigers had a difficult season overall, but individual performances like these deserve recognition. Dingler, Greene and McGonigle each made significant contributions to Detroit's offense and now have an opportunity to take home one of baseball's most prestigious individual hitting awards.
Tune in on November 17 to see whether any of the three Tigers can bring home a Silver Slugger Award.
