Every Silver Slugger Award winner in KC Royals history

The Kansas City Royals will certainly be part of the conversation in this month's MLB awards season. Catcher Salvador Pérez has already kicked off the festivities by winning the Roberto Clemente Award in late October. The Venezuelan has long been a popular ambassador for the game, and now he has an award recognizing his contributions both on and off the field. Another accolade Pérez knows well is the Silver Slugger, one of the most recognizable awards in baseball.

The Silver Slugger award began in 1980, recognizing the best offensive players at each position in the American and National Leagues. Unlike the Cy Young and MVP awards, only current MLB managers and coaches vote on the Silver Slugger each year. Several of the game's best players, such as infielder Ryne Sandberg and catcher Mike Piazza, lead their respective positions in the all-time Silver Slugger rankings.

The Royals have won 16 Silver Slugger Awards since MLB established the honor. Which players account for that hardware, and where do they sit among the Royals' all-time greats?

Salvador Pérez (2016, 2018, 2020, 2021)

Salvador Pérez holds the record for the most Silver Sluggers among all Royals players and active MLB catchers. Each year he won, he had a standout performance — whether it was his 48 home runs in 2021, his career-high .986 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, or his achievements in 2016 when he won the Gold Glove, earned a Silver Slugger, and made an All-Star appearance.

Pérez is the only active Royals player with a Silver Slugger in Kansas City and has a strong chance of adding another in 2024. His .271/.330/.456 batting line was among the best for catchers, while his .786 OPS led all qualified American League catchers. Showing few signs of slowing down in his age-34 season, he should remain a powerhouse in 2025.

Eric Hosmer (2017)

First baseman Eric Hosmer may now make a living on the airwaves and social media, but he was a Royals player not too long ago. As the third overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, Hosmer was a key part of the successful Royals teams of the 2010s. Despite receiving MVP votes in 2015, he didn't earn his first Silver Slugger until his final year with the Royals.

Hosmer posted a career-high .882 OPS in 2017, thanks to significant improvements in drawing walks and hitting 25 home runs for the second consecutive year. The lefty also played in all 162 games, further cementing his status as a fan favorite among Royals fans.