Eleven years after his father’s eighth and final Silver Stick, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won his first career award on Thursday.
• Read also: Vladimir Guerrero son gets his hands on the Hank-Aaron Prize
The Dominican who plays at first base is among three Toronto Blue Jays players to get their hands on a Silver Stick for the 2021 season. Marcus Semien, at second base, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez are the other winners of Canada’s only major league baseball team.
Guerrero Jr. became the youngest Jays athlete to win the honor, at age 22. The Montreal-born man had a dream season at the plate, leading the major leagues for home runs with 48. Invited to his first All-Star game in 2021, he also dominated at the plate level (123) , in addition to leading the American in various offensive categories.
In 2010, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. won an eighth Silver Stick, with the Texas Rangers his only designated hitter position. He had previously won seven as an outfielder, including three for the Montreal Expos.
Semien also got his hands on the trophy for the first time, while Hernandez won it for a second consecutive season.
Les Braves in the spotlight
Winners of the most recent World Series, the Atlanta Braves took home four silver trophies. Freddie Freeman, on first base, led the charge with his third straight win, posting a .300 batting average in addition to hitting 31 long balls.
Ozzie Albies, who has passed 30 homers, 20 stolen cushions and 100 RBIs, won at second base. Austin Riley, in third pad, completed the Braves’ diamond lap. Pitcher Max Fried also added champions to this crop.
No surprises here, but Shohei Ohtani added a debut Silver Stick to his collection as a designated hitter. The Los Angeles Angels pitcher had a year to remember with 46 homers and 100 RBIs.
For the last time in his career, wide receiver Buster Posey was voted top hitter at his position for the fifth time in the National. The San Francisco Giants legend announced his retirement in early November.
The 2021 Silver Batons winners
American league
- First goal: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Second goal: Marcus Semien (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Third goal: Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox)
- Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox)
- Outfielders: Teoscar Hernandez (Toronto Blue Jays), Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) and Cedric Mullins (Baltimore Orioles)
- Receiver: Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals)
- Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)
National league
- First goal: Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves)
- Second baseman: Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves)
- Third goal: Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves)
- Shortstop: Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres)
- Voltigeurs: Juan Soto (Washington Nationals), Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) and Nick Castellanos (Cincinnati Reds)
- Receiver: Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants)
- Pitcher: Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)