The accolades keep on coming for the 2020 White Sox. On Thursday night it was announced that Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson would be taking home Silver Slugger Awards.
Eloy Makes History
Hi Mom! Eloy Jiménez has been named an American League #SilverSlugger Award winner.@Lamantha21 is the youngest player in franchise history to win the award and just the second Dominican-born White Sox player to receive the honor, joining Julio Franco in 1994. pic.twitter.com/NIhBV7Le4D
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 5, 2020
Eloy Jimenez flew under the radar for most White Sox fans this season. Most the attention was drawn toward Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson’s race for the MVP. When Abreu and Anderson weren’t in the spotlight all eyes were fixed on Luis Robert’s rookie campaign. Meanwhile Jimenez was doing what he does best, demolish baseballs.
In his second season, the White Sox left fielder ranked seventh in the AL with 14 home runs. He also cracked the the top ten with a .559 slugging percentage, that was good enough for eighth best in the AL. On top of that he finished ninth in the AL in both hits and RBIs with 63 base knocks and 41 driven in. He also posted a respectable .296 batting average and a .890 OPS.
These numbers were good enough to make him the youngest Sliver Slugger recipient in White Sox history. It should be the first of many for Jimenez as he took a huge step in the right direction in 2020.
Abreu Adds Another Silver Slugger award to his collection
Add another award to his resumé!
José Abreu has been named an American League #SilverSlugger Award winner, his third career honor. pic.twitter.com/zD2RrzqCSj
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 5, 2020
Jose Abreu could wind up with a very crowded trophy case by the end of the season. The front runner for MVP was already named American League Outstanding Player by his peers in the 2020 Players Choice Awards. He now can add his third Silver Slugger award to his trophy case.
This comes as no surprise as Abreu was the best offensive player in the AL let alone first baseman. Abreu racked up 76 hits, 60 RBIs, a .617 slugging percentage, a .317 batting average and hit 19 out of the ballpark. That was good enough to finish second in the AL in home runs, fourth in batting average and fifth in OPS.
Abreu last won the award in 2018 and took it home his rookie season in 2014 as well. With the award he joins some elite company in White Sox history. Abreu became the third player, behind Frank Thomas and Carlton Fisk to win at least three Silver Sluggers with the Sox. Considering they are both Hall of Famers that is some pretty good company.
Tim Anderson captures his first Silver Slugger
TA7 has been named an American League Silver Slugger Award winner!@TimAnderson7 joins Alexei Ramírez (2010, ‘14) as the only shortstops in White Sox history to win the #SilverSlugger Award. pic.twitter.com/c6oaCJNXeZ
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 5, 2020
Tim Anderson picked up right where he left off in 2020. After winning the 2019 batting title the White Sox short stop was in the running for a batting title once again. A late season slump caused Anderson to fall to second place in the race, preventing him to win his second consecutive batting title. However that should not diminish what he did.
Anderson silenced the critics and proved 2019 was no fluke. He led the AL with 45 runs scored and finished with a .322 batting average. He was everything the White Sox wanted in a leadoff man. A guy that could get on base and score runs. He also finished fourth in hits with 67 and 12th in slugging percentage with a .529 mark.
Anderson but an explanation point of the season by going 9 for 14 in the postseason. He had three hits in every game with a pair of doubles and home runs mixed in.
Anderson is the first White Sox shortstop to win the award since Alexi Ramirez in 2014.
