O's Anthony Santander wins an AL Silver Slugger Award

After producing a 44-homer season, hitting 11 more than he ever had previously, O's outfielder Anthony Santander tonight was named an American League Silver Slugger Award winner.

A finalist the last three years, Santander is a first-time winner and joins Yankees Aaron Judge and Juan Soto as AL outfield winners.

The O's had two other Silver Slugger finalists, but Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg did not win.

Santander’s 44 homers ranked second in the AL and third in the majors. He hit .235/.308/.506/.814 with 91 runs and 102 RBIs, both career bests. He became the eighth Oriole to hit 40 or more homers and first since Mark Trumbo in 2016. And the first to drive in 100 or more since Jonathan Schoop in 2017. His 35 homers starting June 1 were third in the majors.

Santander was also the eighth switch hitter (12th occurrence) in MLB history to hit at least 40 homers in a season and one of four (five occurrences) with at least 44. He became the ninth player in O’s history with multiple 30-homer seasons. His 105 homers since the start of 2022 lead MLB switch hitters and rank sixth overall in the majors.

He is the first O's Silver Slugger winner in the outfield since Cedric Mullins in 2021. Santander joins Mullins, Mark Trumbo from 2016 and Adam Jones from 2013 as O’s to win as outfielders.

Now a free agent, Santander is free to sign with any MLB club. The O's made him a qualifying offer and if he rejects that, as expected and signs elsewhere, the O's will get a compensatory draft pick.

Santander's 105 homers over the last three years is more than the totals hit by Soto, Yordan Alvarez, Corey Seager, Mookie Betts, Manny Machado, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Rafael Devers. 

The O's Henderson was a SS finalist at shortstop, but the award went to Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. who won the batting title while producing a 30-30 (homers and steals) season.

Henderson played 159 games batting .281/.364/.529/.893 with 31 doubles, seven triples, 37 homers and 92 RBIs. His 118 runs scored were the most by an Oriole since Roberto Alomar set the club record with 132 in 1996 and is tied for the fourth-highest run total in O’s history.

Henderson, who started at shortstop in the All-Star game, was named the Most Valuable Oriole in a vote by local media for the second straight year.

Henderson won at the utility position in 2023 and Adley Rutschman was the AL Silver Slugger for catchers last year.

Henderson was looking to become the first Oriole to win back-to-back Silver Sluggers since Miguel Tejada in 2004-2005.

Westburg was a utility player finalist but Josh Smith of Texas was the winner.

Westburg, 25, played in 107 games and hit .264/.312/.481/.792 with 26 doubles, five triples, 18 homers and 63 RBIs with 57 runs scored. He went on the injured list Aug. 1 with a right-hand fracture and did not return until Sept. 22. In July, Westburg played in his first All-Star game.

The Orioles were looking to become the seventh club in team history to win two or more Silver Sluggers. But they will not join 1983, 1984, 1989, 2004, 2013 and 2023.

They had a trio of winners once in 2013 with Jones, J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis.

The Orioles were a finalist for AL Team of the Year on offense, but that award went to the New York Yankees.