KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. have been named finalists for the 2024 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award, as announced this morning by Louisville Slugger. Finalists are voted on by Major League Managers and coaches. Winners will be announced on MLB Network on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Perez is one of four finalists among American League catchers, joining Houston’s Yainer Diaz, Oakland’s Shea Langeliers and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh. Witt Jr. is one of three finalists among American League shortstops, along with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Texas’ Corey Seager.
Among qualified American League catchers in 2024 (min. 50% games at the position), Perez ranked 1st in RBI (104), on-base percentage (.330), slugging percentage (.456), OPS (.786) and extra-base hits (55), 2nd in batting average (.271) and hits (160) and 3rd in home runs (27).
Perez, 34, is by far the oldest among the American League finalists at his position, ahead of Raleigh (27), Langeliers (26) and Diaz (26). Salvy’s 104 RBI were the 2nd most ever by a catcher (min. 50% games) in his age-34 season or older, trailing only Carlton Fisk, who had 107 RBI at age 37 in 1985.
Salvy played in 158 games in 2024, the 2nd-highest total of his 13-year career, and made 90 starts behind the plate. His 27 home runs tied for the 2nd-highest total of his career and marked his eighth season with at least 20 HR. Perez ranked 2nd among all Major League players with 29 go-ahead RBI, trailing only Aaron Judge (32).
Perez has been a finalist in 10 of the last 11 seasons since 2014, with the only exception being 2019, when he missed the entire season due to injury.
Should Perez win the award (which was established in 1980), it would be his fifth career honor, following 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021. His four career Silver Slugger Awards are already a club record, ahead of George Brett’s three. He would be the ninth player to win at least five Louisville Silver Slugger Awards as a catcher, along with Mike Piazza (10), Iván Rodríguez (7), Brian McCann (6), Lance Parrish (6), Gary Carter (5), Joe Mauer (5), Jorge Posada (5) and Buster Posey (5).
Witt Jr., 24, led all Major League players in 2024 with a .332 batting average and 211 hits. Among qualified shortstops in the American League, he also ranked 1st in runs (125), RBI (109), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.588), OPS (.977), extra-base hits (88) and games (161).
Witt Jr. hit 32 home runs (2nd among AL shortstops) to become the first shortstop in Major League history to record consecutive 30/30 seasons. He also became the second player ever (regardless of position) to lead the Majors in batting average during a 30/30 season, joining Mookie Betts in 2018.
Witt Jr., who was a finalist in 2023, would be the first Royals shortstop to win a Silver Slugger Award.
Witt Jr. was named a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner for the first time last night. If he wins the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award, Witt Jr. would be the 13th different shortstop (18th occurrence) to win both honors in the same season, and the first since Brandon Crawford in 2015.