Pirates Brandon Lowe named finalist for Silver Slugger
· Yahoo Sports
Brandon Lowe’s first season as a Pittsburgh Pirate has been a huge success. He is up for a Gold Glove award in the National League, and he led the team in home runs and RBIs. Lowe is also now named a National League Silver Slugger finalist.
Lowe slashed .260/.331/.493 with 29 doubles, one triple, 35 home runs and 96 RBI in a career-high 150 games this season. The 32-year-old led the Pirates in home runs and RBI. Lowe’s 33 home runs as a second baseman were the most in a single season in franchise history.
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Lowe led all MLB second basemen in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS (.824). He finished second in RBI and runs (94). Lowe finished sixth in the National League in home runs and ninth in RBI, regardless of position.
Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers is the other finalist for NL second basemen. This would be Lowe’s first Silver Slugger award if he were to win. Andrew McCutchen was the last Pirate to win a Silver Slugger award when he did it in 2015.
The veteran second baseman is slated to be a free agent this offseason and this nominee is just more proof that the Bucs need to re-sign him. The Pirates extended him a $23.15 million qualifying offer on Monday. He has until Nov. 17 to either accept or reject the offer.
With the season Lowe had it makes sense that the asking price for him will be high but the Pirates need to be aggressive in the offseason and they can’t be afraid to spend some money. Pittsburgh had a top 10 offense in the league this year and Lowe was a big reason for that.
The winners for the Silver Slugger award will be announced on November 17.