KC Royals: Awards suspense begins this weekend

(Editor’s Note: This story was updated Nov. 8 to modify the reference to the Platinum Glove Awards. Because Andrew Benintendi and Michael A. Taylor won Gold Gloves, they are in the running to win Platinums, while Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield aren’t because they did not win Gold Gloves).

Major League Baseball’s offseason officially began the moment the World Series ended earlier this week. Potential free agents became real free agents Wednesday, trading has resumed, the first big announcement of the game’s winter came Thursday when San Francisco’s Buster Posey announced his retirement, and the KC Royals have already released Hanser Alberto, Scott Blewett and Ryan McBroom.

It’s also time for baseball’s biggest award announcements. MVP’s, Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers are at stake; so, among others, are the Hank Aaron Award, Rookies of the Year, Cy Young Awards, and Managers of the Year.

And this year’s might be the most suspenseful and exciting awards bonanza yet for Royals fans. Salvador Perez, he of the monster season, already won the Luis Aparicio Award, and was a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award won by Nelson Cruz, and the Major League Baseball Players Association’s American League Outstanding Player Award won by Shohei Ohtani.

Perez remains up for at least four more awards, winners of which will be revealed over the next couple of weeks, with the action beginning Sunday. Here are the dates and times (all Eastern Time) to know for honors Royals—especially Perez—are up for so far. (Our source for all dates, times, and broadcast information, including these awards and others, is mlb.com).

Four KC Royals will find out if they’ve won Gold Glove Awards this Sunday.

Winners of the Rawlings Gold Gloves, presented to the best defenders at each position in both leagues, will be announced Sunday, with coverage starting at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. It will be a big night for Royals fans—catcher Perez, second baseman Whit Merrifield, left fielder Andrew Benintendi and center fielder Michael A. Taylor are all American League nominees.

Perez could win his fifth Gold Glove, while winning would give Merrifield, Benintendi and Taylor their first.

KC Royals catcher Salvador Perez is a Hank Aaron Award nominee (Nov. 9).

Tuesday provides Perez the chance to win another award when the Hank Aaron Award winner is announced on MLB Network (MLBN) at 6 p.m.

The top offensive players in each league get Aaron Awards. Perez, whose nomination was recently announced, has serious competition—Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with whom he shared the major league home run title with 48, is an AL nominee, as are two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Angels, Oakland’s Matt Olson, Cleveland’s José Ramírez, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, and Baltimore’s Cedric Mullins.

Salvador Perez discovers if he wins another Silver Slugger Award Nov. 11.

Perez has won three Louisville Silver Sluggers, awards presented to the top AL and NL offensive performers at every position. He’ll find out Thursday evening if he’s getting a fourth silver bat; MLBN has coverage beginning at 6 p.m.

Perez’s competition for this award isn’t as stiff as it is for the Aaron Award. Together with his big league lead-tying 48 homers, KC’s All-Star catcher slashed .276/.316/.544 and his 121 RBIs were more than anyone else in the majors. The other two Silver Slugger finalists pale in comparison: the Rays’ Mike Zunino had 33 homers but hit only .216, and New York’s Gary Sanchez clubbed 23 home runs but managed only a .204 average.

Two KC Royals won Gold Gloves, so they can now win Platinum Gloves. (Nov. 12).

Two Kansas City outfielders, Andrew Benintendi and Michael A. Taylor, are eligible for Platinum Gloves because they won Gold Gloves.

Rawlings presents two Platinum Gloves every year, one to the top defensive player in each league. Retired KC Royals left fielder Alex Gordon won it twice.

Fans can cast their vote for the award here.

The winners will be revealed on MLBN at 6 p.m.

Will Salvador Perez be the American League Most Valuable Player? (Nov. 18).

This accolade is a true mystery for 2021. Perez is certainly a viable candidate, but the nominees for each league’s MVP won’t be announced until this Monday, when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America reveals its candidates for the AL and NL MVP’s, Cy Young Awards, Rookies of the Year, and Managers of the Year.

The MVP winners will be announced Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. on MLBN.

Salvador Perez is a nominee for the Heart & Hustle Award, too. (Nov. 19).

Active and past major leaguers vote on this annual award, which recognizes the present big league player who “demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”

Who is Kansas City’s candidate? Salvador Perez, of course.

MLBN will announce the winner during 10 a.m. programming.

Four KC Royals have been nominated so far for 2021 awards. They’ll find out this month whether they’ve won.