2022 Silver Sluggers: 1st-timers dominate, Trout earns 9th

MLB announced its 2022 Silver Slugger winners Thursday, honoring the best offensive players at each position in both leagues.

This year's Silver Sluggers feature a couple of notable changes. A new category - utility player - honors the best multi-positional player in each league, while the National League has discontinued its pitcher's award following the introduction of the universal DH.

Half of the 20 recipients are first-time winners, while the San Diego Padres lead all teams with three honorees.

Here's the complete list:

American League

Catcher

Winner: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays (1st Silver Slugger)

Kirk, the first Blue Jays catcher to win a Silver Slugger, led all qualified backstops in wRC+ and had the lowest strikeout rate at the position.

Runners-up: Sean Murphy (OAK), Cal Raleigh (SEA), Adley Rutschman (BAL), Salvador Perez (KC), Martin Maldonado (HOU)

First base

Winner: Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (1st)

Lowe boosted his OPS by 80 points en route to his first career Silver Slugger. He joins Mark Teixeira (2004-05) as the only Rangers first basemen to claim this honor.

Runners-up: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), Jose Abreu (CWS), Anthony Rizzo (NYY)

Second base

Winner: Jose Altuve, Astros (6th)

Altuve returned to form in 2022, leading all second basemen in home runs while hitting .300 for the first time since 2018. His six Silver Sluggers are the most at his position in AL history and put him one back of Ryne Sandberg for most among second basemen.

Runners-up: Andres Gimenez (CLE), Marcus Semien (TEX), DJ LeMahieu (NYY)

Third base

Winner: Jose Ramirez, Guardians (4th)

Ramirez propelled the surprising Guardians to the playoffs with an AL-best 44 doubles and placed second in both RBIs and total bases. He ties Albert Belle for the most Silver Sluggers in Cleveland franchise history.

Runners-up: Rafael Devers (BOS), Alex Bregman (HOU), Matt Chapman (TOR)

Shortstop

Winner: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (5th)

Now a free agent, Bogaerts finished top 10 in a slew of offensive categories and had the second-highest wRC+ among shortstops. He joins Wade Boggs, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz as five-time Silver Slugger winners for the Red Sox.

Runners-up: Bo Bichette (TOR), Carlos Correa (MIN), Corey Seager (TEX)

Outfield

Winners: Aaron Judge, Yankees (3rd); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (1st); Mike Trout, Angels (9th)

Judge was perhaps the most obvious choice at any position after hitting an AL-record 62 home runs and leading the majors in virtually every important offensive category.

Trout's ninth Silver Slugger moves him past Manny Ramirez for most among AL outfielders, and he trails only Barry Bonds (12) at the position. He's also the first player to win nine Silver Sluggers before his age-30 season.

Rodriguez is the third rookie to post 25 homers and 25 steals in a season, and he's the second Mariners rookie to win this honor after Ichiro Suzuki did so in 2001.

Runners-up: Kyle Tucker (HOU), Randy Arozarena (TB), George Springer (TOR), Taylor Ward (LAA), Anthony Santander (BAL), Adolis Garcia (TEX), Teoscar Hernandez (TOR)

Designated Hitter

Winner: Yordan Alvarez, Astros (1st)

Alvarez, an AL MVP finalist, ranked top five in the league in average, OBP, slugging, OPS, homers, and RBIs for the World Series-winning Astros.

Runners-up: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), Giancarlo Stanton (NYY), George Springer (TOR), Adolis Garcia (TEX)

Utility

Winner: Luis Arraez, Twins (1st)

Arraez won the AL batting title while splitting time almost evenly between first base, second base, and DH. His 7.1% strikeout rate was the lowest in baseball.

Runners-up: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), DJ LeMahieu (NYY), Luis Rengifo (LAA)

National League

Catcher

Winner: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (3rd)

Realmuto and Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez are now the only two MLB catchers to record a 20-20 campaign. This is his third Silver Slugger in the last five seasons.

Runners-up: Will Smith (LAD), Willson Contreras (CHC), Travis d'Arnaud (ATL)

First base

Winner: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (5th)

Goldschmidt's five career Silver Sluggers are the most ever for a first baseman, surpassing the totals of Albert Pujols and Todd Helton. The 35-year-old won his first four with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Runners-up: Freddie Freeman (LAD), Pete Alonso (NYM), Matt Olson (ATL), Christian Walker (ARI)

Second base

Winner: Jeff McNeil, Mets (1st)

McNeil, who also earned a nomination in the utility category, posted an MLB-best .326 average and finished top five in OBP and hits. He's the first Mets player to win a Silver Slugger since 2016 and the franchise's first winner at second base since Edgardo Alfonzo in 1999.

Runners-up: Jake Cronenworth (SD), Ketel Marte (ARI), Kolten Wong (MIL), Brendan Rodgers (COL)

Third base

Winner: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (5th)

Defense is Arenado's calling card, so it's easy to forget what a great hitter he is. This is the 31-year-old's first Silver Slugger since 2018, but only Wade Boggs (eight) and Mike Schmidt (six) have won more at the hot corner.

Runners-up: Manny Machado (SD), Austin Riley (ATL), Justin Turner (LAD)

Shortstop

Winner: Trea Turner, Dodgers (1st)

The durable Turner is a first-time honoree after setting career highs in both RBIs and doubles during his second straight 20-20 campaign.

Runners-up: Willy Adames (MIL), Francisco Lindor (NYM), Dansby Swanson (ATL)

Outfield

Winners: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (5th); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (1st); Juan Soto, Nationals/Padres (3rd)

This is Betts' fourth Silver Slugger in the last five seasons, making him the 12th outfielder to win at least five.

Soto is the first NL outfielder to win three consecutive Silver Sluggers since Andrew McCutchen won four straight from 2012-15. Schwarber, the only first-time winner, led the NL in homers from the leadoff spot for the pennant-winning Phillies.

Runners-up: Starling Marte (NYM), Joc Pederson (SF), Michael Harris II (ATL), Bryan Reynolds (PIT), Hunter Renfroe (MIL), Brandon Nimmo (NYM)

Designated Hitter

Winner: Josh Bell, Nationals/Padres (1st)

Though Bell actually played more games at first base this year, he's the second NL player to win as a DH after Marcell Ozuna did so in the shortened 2020 season.

Runners-up: Albert Pujols (STL), Luke Voit (SD/WSH), Justin Turner (LAD), Charlie Blackmon (COL), Bryce Harper (PHI)

Utility

Winner: Brandon Drury, Reds/Padres (1st)

The 30-year-old Drury, who played three infield positions this year, came out of nowhere to turn in a career-best offensive season.

Runners-up: Tommy Edman (STL), Thairo Estrada (SF), Jeff McNeil (NYM), Chris Taylor (LAD)