If 2022 was indeed Jose Abreu’s final season with the White Sox, he is leaving on a high note. The finalist for the American and National League Silver Slugger Awards were released on Thursday morning, and once again, Abreu’s name was on the list. He was the only player on the White Sox to be nominated for an award.
Abreu is a three-time Silver Slugger who most recently took home the award during his MVP season in 2020. He also won it during his rookie year in 2014, as well as his 2018 All-Star campaign.
If Abreu can win, he will join some elite company. Only three first basemen (Todd Helton, Albert Pujols, and Paul Goldschmidt with four apiece) have won the award more times than Abreu.
In what was considered a “down year” because of his dip in power, Abreu still managed to rank first in fWAR, second in wOBA, and second in wRC+ amongst qualified first basemen.
He led the White Sox in games played (157), batting average (.304), hits (183), doubles (40), and OBP ( .378). He also posted a career-high in walks and his lowest strikeout rate in nine years.
According to Baseball Savant, he also placed in the top ten percentile of all MLB hitters in average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG.
He will be up against Nathaniel Lowe of the Texas Rangers, Vladimir Guerreoro Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Anthony Rizzo of the New York Yankees. Guereror Jr. is the defending champion from last season.
Guerro is tied for the lead in home runs amongst AL first basemen with 32, while Abreu led all AL first basemen (excluding Luis Arraez, who was nominated for the utility award) in batting average.
After completing the final year of his three-year extension from 2019, the White Sox will likely be moving on this offseason in favor of Andrew Vaughn. After producing nine quality seasons on the South Side, Abreu will have to find a new home.
