Vientos Has Earned Silver Slugger Award Consideration

Mark Vientos has a higher OPS than Manny Machado, more home runs than Matt Chapman and a higher batting average than Nolan Arenado.

That’s impressive company for a 24-year-old who began the season at Triple-A Syracuse and has inserted himself into the Silver Slugger conversation as the best offensive third baseman in the National League.

The tough part of Vientos’ case, however, is that he has far fewer at-bats than his peers because of his stints in Syracuse. He was first brought up to the majors on April 27 – he hit a walk-off home run the very next day, by the way – and then was sent back down after three games. He returned on May 15 and stayed for good.

Vientos has 25 home runs, 67 RBIs and 21 doubles. He is slashing .272/.329/.524, and each of those stats would rank him third, tied for fourth and first among third baseman who are eligible to win the batting title, respectively. The problem, however, is that he doesn’t qualify with 382 at-bats, though that doesn’t preclude someone from winning a Silver Slugger.

Coaches and managers vote for the award. Machado, who received the award in 2020, would probably be the favorite as of now with 29 homers, 104 RBIs and an .814 OPS in 562 at-bats. Voters may be more impressed with Vientos’ 25 homers in 180 fewer at-bats though, especially considering his OPS clears Machado’s by 39 points entering Friday.

Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies can’t be discounted either, as he is currently hitting .285/.339/.458 with 14 homers and 90 RBIs while leading the league with 44 doubles.

The Silver Slugger was first granted in 1980. The only Mets third basemen to win it are Howard Johnson (1989, 1991) and David Wright (2007, 2008).

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