Luis Robert Jr. is 1st Chicago White Sox since José Abreu to win Silver Slugger: ‘One of the most beautiful awards I’ve received’
Luis Robert Jr. set career highs in nearly every offensive category in 2023.
The Chicago White Sox center fielder received recognition Thursday for the big season, being named an American League Silver Slugger Award winner for outfielders.
Robert and Cody Bellinger, who had a tremendous bounce-back season with the Cubs, were among those honored in voting done by major league managers and coaches. Bellinger won in the National League utility player category after spending time in center field and first base.
Robert is a first-time award winner, and the first Sox player to be recognized since the trio of José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Eloy Jiménez in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. It’s the first ever by a Sox center fielder.
“This is one of the most beautiful awards I’ve received,” Robert said through an interpreter during a video conference call Thursday. “I dreamed of a Gold Glove, I won a Gold Glove (in 2020). I dreamed of a Silver Slugger and now I have the Silver Slugger. It’s special.
“Of course, I want to win more accolades, but the most important one for me is to get a World Series ring. That’s what really matters and that’s what really drives me.”
Robert, 26, slashed .264/.315/.542 with 36 doubles, 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, 90 runs, 20 stolen bases and an .857 OPS in 145 games. The doubles, home runs, RBIs, runs and stolen base totals are career-bests for Robert, who also earned All-Star honors for the first time.
Bellinger signed a one-year deal with the Cubs last offseason and regained his top form, slashing .307/.356/.525 with 29 doubles, 26 home runs, 97 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 130 games.
It’s his second Silver Slugger, after winning it during his NL MVP season of 2019 as an outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Javier Báez was the last Cubs player to earn a Silver Slugger Award, for second base in 2018.
Bellinger, 28, returns to free agency as one of the top players on the market after declining his end of a mutual option for 2024.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson and outfielder Seiya Suzuki were Silver Slugger Award finalists at their respective positions. Bellinger was also a finalist as an outfielder.
Bellinger ranked fourth in the NL in average, seventh in slugging and eighth in OPS (. 881).
Robert was tied for second in the AL in extra-base hits (75), third in home runs and slugging percentage, fifth in OPS (. 857), seventh in total bases (296) and OPS+ (103.1) and tied for ninth in doubles.
“This is the result of all the preparation, all the work I did for the past season,” Robert said.
He said the home run number stood out.
“I was able to hit 30-plus homers in the minors (32 in 2019) but couldn’t in the majors because of injuries and things,” Robert said. “It was a number in my mind. I really wanted to get to 30 or over 30. I was able to do it and am very proud of that.”
Robert missed the final six games of the season after suffering a mild left knee MCL sprain on Sept. 24 in Boston.
“I saw the doctors this past Monday and everything went well,” he said. “I start next week being able to do what I usually do in the offseason. I was doing therapy until last Monday, but once I get the green light from the doctors I’m going to start doing what I usually do starting next week.”
