The talented Cuban slugger, Yordan Álvarez of the Houston Astros, has been named one of the top three finalists for the Silver Slugger Award, vying to be recognized as the premier designated hitter in the American League of Major League Baseball (MLB). Álvarez shone this season with an impressive .308 batting average, 35 home runs, and 85 RBIs, placing him in competition for this prestigious offensive accolade against Brent Rooker of the Oakland Athletics and Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees, according to sports journalist Francys Romero.
Romero mentioned on Facebook that despite Álvarez's remarkable statistics, the competition remains fierce. Rooker surpasses Álvarez in home runs and RBIs, which could make Álvarez's pursuit of a second Silver Slugger in this category challenging. This acknowledgment of offensive prowess once again highlights Álvarez as a standout figure among MLB hitters, solidifying his status as one of the most prominent Cuban players in professional baseball.
Álvarez, originally from Las Tunas, reached several milestones during the last competitive season. Notably, he maintained a streak of four consecutive seasons with at least 30 home runs and became the ninth player in Astros history to hit for the cycle. In an unforgettable July game, Álvarez achieved this feat by hitting a single in the first inning, a home run in the fourth, a triple in the sixth, and a double in the eighth, driving in two runs against the Seattle Mariners, although the Astros fell short with a 6-4 loss.