Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz distinguished himself in a crowded first base field this year, but still, looking at the competition, it felt like an honor just to be nominated for a Silver Slugger. Vinnie Pasquantino of the Kansas City Royals drilled 32 homers in his fourth big-league season, edging out fellow AL Central first baseman Spencer Torkelson (31 blasts) for the nom. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. carried a country on his back during the Toronto Blue Jays' playoff run, drilling eight postseason homers and riding right to the edge of glory.
Kurtz? The Rookie of the Year win seemed assured around the corner, but no rookie can compete with Vladdy. There was nothing wrong with second place.
Except ... that's not how it turned out. On Friday evening live on The Baseball Insiders, Kurtz was announced as the AL's winner at the first base position, setting a harmonic tone ahead of next week's ROY reveal (and giving Roman Anthony and teammate Jacob Wilson yet another reason to be very nervous).
Nick Kurtz of the Athletics has won the American League Silver Slugger at first base, announced by FanSided.
Kurtz, who's already taken home the Baseball Digest AL Rookie of the Year as well, did have a much better season than Vladdy (but, again, seniority sometimes reigns). The American League's managers, and their selected coaches, sided with the Athletics' tower of power instead, after he out-homered the Jays icon 36 to 23, posting a ridiculous 173 OPS+ in the process (Vlad's was 133).
By any metric other than established stardom and postseason greatness, Kurtz was the slam-dunk superior choice this season. Still, it was hard to believe he'd actually win out, and it got tougher to imagine the voters wouldn't be swayed by aura with every Guerrero Jr. postseason swing (though managers/coaches had already weighed in long before the run).
Never mind that. Our faith has been restored. The Big Amish gets his Big Hardware. Now, it's onto the next honor - after just one offseason, these things are starting to become old hat, huh?