Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez win 2020 Silver Slugger Awards

Freddie Freeman (Eric Enfermero, Wikimedia Commons)

Two Major League Baseball players who have Canadian connections have won the 2020 Silver Slugger Awards. Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves, who plays internationally for Canada because his parents are Canadian, won the Silver Slugger Award at first base in the National League. Teoscar Hernandez of the Toronto Blue Jays was one of three oufielders to win an American League Silver Slugger Award. The Silver Slugger Award is presented to the best hitter at every position for each league in Major League Baseball.

Freeman, who suffered from coronavirus before the season began, had a career-high batting average of .341 in 2020. He also had 13 home runs, 53 runs batted in, 23 doubles, one triple, scored 51 runs, 73 hits, had 45 walks, 137 total bases, two stolen bases, an on base percentage of .462, and a slugging percentage of .640.

Freeman led the Major Leagues in runs scored and doubles. He had the second best batting average in the National League. Only Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals was better at .351. Freeman also had the second most runs batted in among National League players and was second in total bases with 137. Only his Braves teammate, Marcell Ozuna had more RBIs with 56, and more total bases with 145.

When it came to hits, Freeman was third in the National League. Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals had the most hits with 78, and Ozuna had 77 hits. Freeman’s slugging percentage and on base percentage was also the second best in Major League Baseball. The only player with a higher slugging percentage and on base percentage was Soto, who had a slugging percentage of .695, and an on base percentage of .490.

Hernandez, who is from Cotui, Dominican Republic, meanwhile batted .289 with 16 home runs and 34 runs batted in during 2020. Like Freeman, he had a career-high in batting average. Hernandez also scored 33 runs, had 55 hits, 14 walks, six stolen bases, 110 total bases, a .340 on base percentage, and a .579 slugging percentage.

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