Breaking: Red Sox Rookie Joins Baseball’ s Elite Defensive Club
The Toronto Blue Jays could have another player win an award.
On Monday morning, superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was nominated for the American League Silver Slugger Award at first base. He’s up against Cleveland Guardians’ Josh Naylor and Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Santana.
Guerrero Jr. had a similar season to his 2021 campaign where he finished second in American League MVP voting. In 2024, the 25-year-old slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs in 697 plate appearances, along with a 10.3 BB% and a 13.8 K%. Overall, he finished the season with a 165 wRC+ and a 5.5 fWAR, slightly below his 166 wRC+ and a 6.3 fWAR in 2021.
Naylor, who is also Canadian, didn’t have nearly as good of a season. In 633 plate appearances, the 27-year-old slashed .243/.320/.456 with 31 home runs, along with a 9.2 BB% and a 16.6 K% for a 118 wRC+ and a 2.3 fWAR.
Santana wasn’t any better, as the 38-year-old first baseman slashed .238/.328/.420 with 23 home runs in 594 plate appearances, along with a 10.9 BB% and a 16.7 K%. Overall, he finished the season with a 114 wRC+ and a 3 fWAR.
It’s pretty clear that the award is Guerrero Jr.’s to win. The 25-year-old is entering his final season of team control and will become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season. As always, the Blue Jays should sign him immediately.
