Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger Reach Silver Slugger Finalist Stage

Two Yankees have a chance to add a major hitting honor to their seasons, though their paths to the Silver Slugger differ. Ben Rice is a finalist at designated hitter after a powerful full season at the plate; Cody Bellinger earned another outfield nomination while also collecting two defensive honors. The winners will be revealed November 17.

Rice’s case starts with the scale of his production. He led Yankees position players with 4.2 fWAR, ranked third in MLB with a .534 slugging percentage, fifth in wRC+ at 149 and seventh with 41 home runs. Across 154 games, he hit .264/.363/.534, scored a team-high 105 runs and drove in 97. Those numbers put a second consecutive finalist appearance in a different category from last year, when he was nominated as a utility player and lost to Detroit’s Zach McKinstry.

The category shift reflects Rice’s split between first base and designated hitter. His nomination recognizes the offensive value of that season, and a win would be the first major award of his career. The hurdle is substantial: Yordan Alvarez is the other AL designated hitter finalist and is described as the likely league MVP. Rice’s production makes him a credible contender, but the matchup leaves little room for a comfortable prediction.

Bellinger’s case combines the bat and the glove

Bellinger is also a finalist for the second year running. He missed a month with a hamstring injury, yet still finished third among left fielders with 3.5 fWAR and fifth in the group in wRC+ at 115. In 121 games, he hit .264/.338/.429, with 17 home runs, 73 runs and 73 RBIs. The Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award he has already secured this offseason underline the broader value he brought in left field.

The Silver Slugger would add a third career win, following his awards in 2019 and 2023. The outfield field is crowded: Mike Trout, Wilyer Abreu, Randy Arozarena, Chase DeLauter, Jac Caglianone, Chandler Simpson, Riley Greene and Tristan Peters join Bellinger as finalists. That depth makes his route difficult, but the combination of steady offense and defensive recognition gives his season a strong overall profile.

How the award is decided

Created in 1980, the Silver Slugger recognizes the top hitter at each position in each league. The award has since added a utility category and a team honor for the best offense in each league. Coaches and managers from each team choose the individual winners, and they cannot select players from their own clubs. The process differs from honors such as MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, which are decided by the BBWAA.

The AL shortlist spans every position. Dillon Dingler and Carter Jensen are the catcher finalists. Pete Alonso and Willson Contreras are up for first base after both finished among MLB’s top six in wRC+. Kody Clemens and Chase Meidroth are the second base finalists. At shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr., AL MVP finalist, is joined by likely AL Rookie of the Year Kevin McGonigle and Zach Neto. Junior Caminero, another AL MVP finalist, and Miguel Vargas are the third base nominees; they tied for 12th in MLB in fWAR.

McGonigle, Sam Antonacci and Ezequiel Duran make up the AL utility group. The Astros, Rays, Twins and White Sox are finalists for the team award. The breadth of the field gives the Yankees’ two nominees a place in a deep class, while also showing how different the cases are: Rice arrives with standout power numbers, and Bellinger has to contend with a large outfield group after an interrupted season.

National League finalists round out the field

The NL catcher finalists are Hunter Goodman and Gabriel Moreno. Jake Bauers, Alec Burleson, Rafael Devers and Matt Olson are listed at first base, with Bauers also identified as NLCS MVP and a World Series winner. Brice Turang and Brandon Lowe are the second base nominees. Elly De La Cruz, CJ Abrams and Otto Lopez are the shortstops, while Alex Bregman and Max Muncy are up for third base.

The NL outfield group features presumptive NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jackson Chourio, Corbin Carroll, Seiya Suzuki, Fernando Tatis Jr., James Wood and Jordan Walker. Shohei Ohtani, an NL MVP finalist, and Kyle Schwarber are the designated hitter nominees. Bauers and Tatis are also among the utility finalists, alongside NL Rookie of the Year finalist Sal Stewart. The Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers and Nationals complete the team list.

Rice and Bellinger give the Yankees two distinct chances at individual recognition: one built on elite power and a heavy run-producing role, the other on productive work in left field despite time missed. November 17 will show whether either season earns the final distinction.