Kansas City Royals stars Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez win 2024 Silver Slugger Award

Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. is becoming familiar with silver and gold this offseason.

On Tuesday, Witt joined teammate Salvador Perez as 2024 recipients of the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award.

Witt received the honor for the first time in his career. This offseason, he has earned league-wide recognition for his 2024 campaign, winning the American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award at shortstop.

Perez, 34, earned his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He piloted the Royals offense with 27 home runs and 104 RBIs. Perez hit his 250th career home run against the New York Mets and later eclipsed 1,500 hits against the Colorado Rockies.

The Royals have 18 AL Silver Slugger winners in club history. Eleven different Royals have won the Silver Slugger Award in a given season. However, the club has just three instances of multiple players receiving the honor in the same season.

Witt and Perez join Royals Hall of Fame duo George Brett and Willie Wilson (1980) in achieving the feat. Wilson also won the Silver Slugger Award alongside teammate Hal McRae during the 1982 season.

“They were two of the best offensive performers all year, not only for us, but league wide,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “So, (it’s) definitely deserving. I think they are the kind of guys that we are going to build around and they are great on the field and off the field.”

Witt, 24, thrived in his third MLB season. He led the majors with a .332 batting average and 211 hits in 161 games. Witt also recorded 88 extra-base hits (45 doubles, 11 triples and 32 home runs) and 109 RBIs.

The Royals relied on his production to secure their first playoff berth since 2015. Witt capped his stellar year with another 30-30 season and his first All-Star appearance. There is a chance Witt adds more hardware as he is a finalist for the 2024 AL MVP Award.

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch him this year,” starter Michael Wacha said during the 2024 season. “He’s a stud and you never know what he is going to do that day. (It’s) exciting stuff in the field, in the box and with his (at-bats). He is just an all-around stud.”

Perez joined an exclusive list with his Silver Slugger Award. He is the ninth MLB catcher to have received the honor five times. The list includes Mike Piazza (10), Iván Rodríguez (7), Brian McCann (6), Lance Parrish (6), Gary Carter (5), Joe Mauer (5), Jorge Posada (5) and Buster Posey (5).

Perez has also enjoyed a memorable offseason. He was also named the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award recipient for his philanthropy in Kansas City, Venezuela and Colombia. He became the first Royals player to win the prestigious honor.

His latest Silver Slugger Award could potentially boost his Hall of Fame résumé. He sits alongside Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Rodríguez as the lone catchers with at least 250 home runs and five Gold Gloves.

“I think he is a Hall of Famer,” Royals pitcher Alec Marsh said of Perez. “He is amazing, not just in the aspects in the game, but the kind of support you get from him in the clubhouse during the game. The insight he has on hitters. Just a real true pro.”

The Silver Slugger Award winners are voted on by MLB managers and coaches after accessing regular-season play. Witt is the first Royals shortstop to receive the honor and Perez earned his first Silver Slugger Award since the 2021 season.

Here is a list of the all-time Royals Silver Slugger Award recipients:

1980: George Brett (3B)

1980: Willie Wilson (OF)

1982: Hal McRae (DH)

1982: Willie Wilson (OF)

1985: George Brett (3B)

1986: Frank White (2B)

1988 George Brett (1B)

1995: Gary Gaetti (3B)

1998: Dean Palmer (3B)

2012: Billy Butler (DH)

2015: Kendrys Morales (DH)

2016: Salvador Perez (Catcher)

2017: Eric Hosmer (1B)

2018: Salvador Perez (Catcher)

2020: Salvador Perez (Catcher)

2021: Salvador Perez (Catcher)

2024: Bobby Witt Jr. (SS)

2024: Salvador Perez (Catcher)