Coming into 2009, it was not unheard of to expect a Dodger outfielder to win a Silver Slugger award. In April, I would have pegged Manny Ramirez as the favorite, but instead his two outfield mates, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, each captured the honor today, which recognizes the top offensive performances at each position.
Each Silver Slugger captured his second award this season: Kemp won a Gold Glove yesterday; Andre Ethier won the Pepsi Clutch Player of the Year award last week.
Kemp hit .297/.352/.490 with 26 home runs, 97 runs scored, and 101 runs batted in. Ethier hit .272/.361/.508 with 31 homers, 91 runs, and 106 RBI. Kemp & Ethier were the first Dodger teammates to knock in 100 runs since 2001 (Shawn Green & Gary Sheffield).
Kemp and Ethier become the fourth and fifth Dodger outfielders to win the award, which began in 1980, joining Dusty Baker (1980, 1981), Pedro Guerrero (1982), and Kirk Gibson (1988).
The last Dodger to win a Silver Slugger was Russell Martin in 2007. The last pair of Dodger teammates to win a Silver Slugger were Mike Piazza and Eric Karros in 1995.