Hanley Ramirez Wins His First Silver Slugger Award

[mbaamin08]

.301/.400/.540
Hanley Ramirez becomes the first Marlins' shortstop to win the award

You can add a Silver Slugger to the growing list of achievements for the Marlins' shortstop.

For the first time in his career, Ramirez is taking home the Louisville Slugger's Silver Slugger Award for National League shortstops.

The face of the Marlins franchise, Ramirez paced all Major League shortstops this past year in home runs (33) and slugging percentage (.540). The 24-year-old's .940 OPS also was the best of anyone at his position, in either league.

"With a guy like Hanley, he could conceivably win this award every year," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Ramirez becomes Florida's first Silver Slugger winner since Miguel Cabrera received the honor in 2006. Cabrera won in back-to-back years. In '05, he claimed the prize as an outfielder. And in '06, he won as a third baseman.

Other winners in the National League were: catcher Brian McCann (Braves); pitcher Carlos Zambrano (Cubs); first baseman Albert Pujols (Cardinals); second baseman Chase Utley (Phillies); third baseman David Wright (Mets), outfielder Ryan Braun (Brewers); outfielder Matt Holliday (Rockies), and outfielder Ryan Ludwick (Cardinals).

Louisville Slugger's Silver Slugger Award winners were determined by a vote of Major League Baseball coaches and managers who vote for the players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in both the American and National Leagues in 2008. Selections are based on a combination of offensive statistics including batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value. Managers and coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own team.

The specially designed Silver Slugger will be presented to each player by a representative of the Hillerich & Bradsby Co., makers of Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of MLB, in a ceremony early in the 2009 season. The trophy is three feet tall and bears the engraved name of the winner and his Silver Slugger teammates in his respective league. The Silver Slugger Award was instituted by H&B in 1980.

In their history, the Marlins now boast six Silver Sluggers. Mike Lowell received one in 2003 at third base. And outfielder Gary Sheffield was a two-time winner -- 1993 and 1996.

Ramirez continues to show why he is regarded as one of the top offensive players in the game. He batted .301 and he paced the Major Leagues with 125 runs scored, which matched his franchise record initially set in 2007.

This season, Ramirez also was voted in as the National League's starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, becoming the first Marlin since Sheffield in 1993 to be selected by the fans.

Ramirez and the rest of the '08 Marlins infield set a Major League record. They are the first foursome to each hit at least 25 home runs. Second baseman Dan Uggla and first baseman Mike Jacobs each had 32, and third baseman Jorge Cantu added 29.

For the first time, the Dominican Republic native also was in the 30/30 club. To go along with his 33 home runs, he stole 35 bases. The only shortstops to swipe more bases than Ramirez were Jose Reyes (56) of the Mets and Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins (47).

Ramirez currently is spending time with his family in the Dominican Republic. He has already accepted an invitation to play for his native country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.



Hanley adds Silver Slugger to mantel

[Hugg]

First of many.

[Fritz]

Sweet. Dude is awesome.

[Matt Wilson]

It's a total blowout. When you look at the numbers, it's not even close.