KANSAS CITY, MO. -
Louisville Slugger this morning announced finalists for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards, including three Royals: shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., rookie catcher Carter Jensen and outfielder Jac Caglianone.
The Royals are one of five teams to have at least three players named finalists in 2026, along with the White Sox (4), Tigers (3), Brewers (3) and Cubs (3). The winners will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Over the last two seasons (2025-26), the Royals have had seven finalists (6 different players) for the Silver Slugger Award (4 in 2025 and 3 in 2026), the most in the Majors ahead of the Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers and Yankees (6 each).
Finalists and winners are determined by a vote of Managers and coaches who cast ballots for players at each position in their league. Each team receives four votes: the Manager and three coaches of the team’s choice. Votes are based on a combination of offensive statistics, including OPS, OPS+, home runs, RBI, batting average, total bases and runs, as well as the Manager’s and coach’s general impressions of a player’s overall offensive value.
Witt Jr., 26, slashed .281/.359/.441 (157-for-558) this season with 94 runs, 33 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBI, 45 stolen bases and an .800 OPS in 143 games. He ranked among the American League leaders in stolen bases (2nd), doubles (T-6th), hits (9th), runs (9th) and batting average (T-9th) and his 7.0 fWAR ranked 2nd in the Majors, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong (10.6).
Among American League shortstops (min. 75% games played at the position), Witt Jr. ranked 1st in hits, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases and 2nd in runs, slugging percentage and OPS.
Witt Jr. has won the Silver Slugger Award in each of the last two seasons (2024-25). Should he win again for 2026, he would be the first American League shortstop to earn the honor in three straight seasons since Derek Jeter (4, 2006-09). He would also be the first player in Royals history to win the award in three consecutive seasons.
Jensen, 23, is a finalist at the catcher position as a rookie after slashing .239/.323/.467 (126-for-527) in 149 games with 35 doubles, 27 home runs and 81 RBI. Among American League catchers (min. 50% games at the position), Jensen ranked 1st in runs (80) and doubles, T-1st in home runs and 2nd in RBI and walks (65).
Should he win, Jensen would become the second Royals catcher to earn the Silver Slugger honors, following five-time winner Salvador Perez (2016, 2018, 2020-21, 2024). He would be just the fifth rookie catcher to win the award and would follow Benito Santiago (1987), Matt Nokes (1987), Craig Biggio (1989) and Mike Piazza (1993).
Jensen’s 27 HR set a Royals franchise record for a rookie, surpassing Bob Hamelin, who hit 24 HR in 1994. His 64 extra-base hits were the most in Major League history for a rookie catcher, besting the previous mark held by Piazza, who had 61 extra-base hits in 1993.
Jensen’s 64 extra-base hits and 65 walks was a combination that’s been matched by only nine rookies in the Expansion Era (since 1961), and each of the previous nine won Rookie of the Year: Dick Allen (1964), Alvin Davis (1984), Mark McGwire (1987), Tim Salmon (1993), Albert Pujols (2001), Eric Hinske (2002), Mike Trout (2012), Aaron Judge (2017) and Pete Alonso (2019).
Caglianone, 23, slashed .289/.340/.494 (148-for-512) with 32 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBI. He ranked among the American League leaders—at all positions—in batting average (4th), slugging percentage (6th), doubles (T-8th) and OPS (9th).
Should he win, Caglianone would be only the second Royals outfielder to earn Silver Slugger honors and would follow Willie Wilson, who won in 1980 and 1982.
In 89 games from June 1 through the end of the season, Jac slashed .317/.360/.554 (106-for-334) with a .914 OPS. He participated in the Home Run Derby and was named American League Player of the Month for August.