Yoenis Céspedes

Mets: Yoenis Cespedes wins National League Silver Slugger Award

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

In 2015, Mets Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes won his first major award, the American League Gold Glove Award. Today he won his second, the National League Silver Slugger Award.

Cespedes is in good company as the recipient of the 2016 National League Silver Slugger Award for Outfielders. He joins the likes of Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton as winners over the past few years.

He became the first Met to win the award since David Wright was the recipient during the 2008 season. The last Mets Outfielder to win the award was Carlos Beltran the year before Wright won.

Cespedes finished the 2016 season with a .280/.354/.530 line clip in 132 games. His .884 OPS was the 12th highest in the National League and the third highest N.L. Outfielder behind Charlie Blackmon and Ryan Braun. His 31 Home Runs was tied for the fourth most among all N.L Outfielders. This was the second time in his career that he has hit 30 Home Runs.

The 31 year old’s Batting Average was lower than his 2015 number but his On Base Percentage leaped forward. It went from .328 to .354 thanks to a spike in walks. In 2015, Cespedes walked 33 times in 159 games while in 2016, he walked 51 times in 132 games.

While some of his numbers, such as his Home Run and RBI totals were a slight dip from 2015, this was still a huge year for Cespedes. This is just another reason as to why the Mets need to make a real effort to make sure that he stays with the team for at least a few years to come.

Pending a very hopeful signing, Cespedes will be rejoining Jay Bruce in the Outfield, who recently had his option exercised and who won the award twice before with the Reds in 2012 and 2013. Hopefully Cespedes will contribute much more than what he has this season for years to come, and hopefully wins more major awards.