Nolan Arenado Wins 2015 Silver Slugger Award
Nolan Arenado wins his first career Silver Slugger Award, capping off a dominant 2015 season.
Earlier in the week, Nolan Arenado won his third-straight Gold Glove Award, being acknowledged as the best defensive third baseman in the National League. In addition to Nolan Arenado’s dominant defense, he won the Silver Slugger Award on Thursday (11/12) to add to his trophy collection. Nolan Arenado put together one of the best seasons by any player in 2015, hitting .287 with 42 home runs and 130 RBI. By being the best offensive and defensive third baseman in the National League, he proves that he is among baseball’s best.
-= Related: Nolan Arenado Wins Third-Straight Gold Glove Award =-
Nolan Arenado won three awards this week: the Gold Glove Award, Wilson’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Silver Slugger Award. With Arenado’s strong defense mixed with his high-powered offense, Arenado is a force to be reckoned with going forward. Nolan Arenado’s glove was ahead of his bat when the Rockies called him up, but in his third season with the Colorado Rockies, his bat came alive. He led the National League in home runs and RBI. If Arenado improves on his batting average moving forward, he is likely a leading candidate to win the MVP Award down the road.
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It is disappointing that a guy who led the National League in home runs and RBI, in addition to playing Gold Glove defense, is not in the final voting for the National League MVP. We understand that he plays in a hitter-friendly ballpark, but there are plenty of hitter-friendly ballparks in the MLB. Have you seen the dimensions in Minute Maid Park? How about Yankee Stadium? Maybe Fenway Park? To punish a man for the ballpark he plays in is ludicrous; furthermore, if he continues his torrid hitting next season, he deserves to be in the final vote.
Major League Baseball loves to promote its young hitters, but they seem to forget about Nolan Arenado. Do not mind him; he has only won the Gold Glove Award in each of the past three seasons. Also, he presents one of the most lethal bats out of players under the age of 25. For the type of praise Bryce Harper receives, Nolan Arenado deserves nation-wide recognition. The one aspect of Arenado’s game he can improve on is his walk rate. If Arenado improves his walk rate, he turns into the best hitter in the league, and his batting average likely trends to the .300 mark.
Next: Nolan Arenado: Time for Colorado Rockies to Lock Him Up
Congratulations to the Colorado Rockies’ MVP in 2015, walking away with his third award on the season. Nolan Arenado proved that he is a force in the National League, and he is one of the best two-way players in baseball. Arenado is eligible for arbitration following the conclusion of the 2015 season, and the Rockies need to lock him up long-term. He deserves an 8-10 year deal for close to $200M, but with how the Troy Tulowitzki contract played out, the Rockies likely want to stick to 5-7 years. Arenado is the new face of the franchise for the Colorado Rockies now that Tulowitzki was traded, so look for Nolan to have a solid 2016 season. Congrats again, Nolan!