Two Washington Nationals are looking to bring home some hardware. Outfielder James Wood and shortstop C.J. Abrams were named finalists for the MLB’s Silver Slugger awards at their respective positions on Thursday.
Neither of Washington’s rising stars — who both made a pair of All-Star teams — have received a Silver Slugger in the past. The annual award is given to players who are named the best hitter at their position in each league.
A National hasn’t been named a Silver Slugger since Juan Soto earned the honor in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021.
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Wood and Abrams have solid cases this year. No shortstop in the majors clubbed more homers than Abrams, who ended the year with a career-high 33. His 106 RBIs also ranked as the best in MLB at his position.
Wood, who fans have affectionately nicknamed “Jimmy Lumber” for his proficiency at the plate, ended the year with 30 home runs despite missing 27 games due to injury. He trailed only MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs among National League outfielders.
The Maryland native also led major league outfielders with a .388 on-base percentage and ranked second with a .891 on-base plus slugging.
Wood’s 102 walks on the season ranked third among all positions behind a pair of former Nationals: Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Wood and Abrams were the engine that powered the Nationals to a promising first season under the new regime led by manager Blake Butera and President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni.
Washington finished with a mediocre 77-85 record that doused some cold water on a promising start before becoming sellers at the trade deadline. Regardless, the Nationals finished with a positive run differential of +6 after posting an abysmal -216 differential during a 66-96 campaign.
It marked the largest run-differential jump in Nationals history, and was largely powered by an offense spurred by Abrams and Wood.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this job is watching players become the best versions of themselves. Seeing Cade Cavalli, Keibert Ruiz, Jacob Young, James Wood and CJ Abrams, among others, make strides is a reminder of why player development is at the heart of what we do,” Toboni wrote Wednesday in a letter to fans. “Every player has a different path, and our responsibility is to help each one maximize his potential.”
Schwarber and Crow-Armstrong were among the most obvious names confirmed as Silver Slugger finalists on Thursday. Other clear candidates included Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero.
The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox led the way in the American League with four Silver Slugger finalists each. In the National League, the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers matched that total with four finalists of their own.
The awards will be announced on Nov. 17.
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