Bobby Witt Jr, Salvador Perez among Royals’ AL Silver Slugger Awards finalists
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- Four KC Royals players among 2025 AL Silver Slugger finalists.
- Witt, Perez, Garcia and Pasquantino earned nods after breakout 2025 seasons.
- Winners announced Nov. 6 on FanSided’s The Baseball Insiders YouTube stream.
The Kansas City Royals are well represented among the top hitters in the American League.
On Thursday, Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez were recognized as finalists for the 2025 American League Silver Slugger Award.
The winners will be announced at 5 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 6, on FanSided’s The Baseball Insiders livestream on YouTube.
Louisville Slugger announced three finalists at each position. Witt is vying for his second AL Silver Slugger Award while Perez seeks the sixth of his illustrious career.
Both received the honor last season. Perez has been a finalist in 11 of his last 12 seasons with the Royals.
Meanwhile, Garcia and Pasquantino are seeking their first AL Silver Slugger. Both recorded career seasons in 2025.
Garcia made strides across the board — including key changes to his batting stance — en route to his first All-Star appearance. He’s a finalist for the Utility Award, given to the top offensive player who plays multiple positions. In addition to his work at third base, Garcia also played multiple games at shortstop and in center field.
Louisville Slugger created the Utility Award in 2022. Former winners include Texas Rangers standout Josh Smith and Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson.
Pasquantino posted his first campaign with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. He finished with a 2.4 WAR (wins above replacement) in 160 games.
Witt, 25, turned in another MVP-worthy campaign. He led the majors with 184 hits and 47 doubles. He also became the first MLB player with at least 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in each of his first four seasons.
This season, Witt eclipsed 100 career home runs and made his second All-Star appearance. He is currently a finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove at his position.
“He’s one of the best players in the league for a reason and a superstar,” Pasquantino said earlier this season.
Garcia, 25, made an extensive leap this season. He posted career numbers across the board after adding a toe-tap to his batting stance. At times, his consistent offense carried KC’s starting lineup.
Garcia typically delivered on the biggest stages. He settled into the fifth spot in the batting order and posted a .286 average with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs and an .800 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in 160 games.
In May, Garcia posted a blistering .349 average with 37 hits in 106 at-bats, garnering All-Star consideration. A few weeks later, he was one of four Royals at the All-Star Game in Atlanta.
This season, he finished sixth in the AL with 50 multi-hit games. He is also a Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist at third base.
“I think I was one of the worst hitters in baseball last year,” Garcia said in early July. “And now, I’m hitting the ball good, changed my stance and playing good all season. I think I can’t be more proud of myself.”
Pasquantino, 28, experienced a hallmark season at first base and provided production in the middle of the Royals’ order. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 113 runs — which ranked sixth in the majors.
His health was an important benchmark. Pasquantino shook off a sluggish April to become one of the best corner infielders in the American League. He also became one of just eight players in franchise history to record at least 30 homers and 30 doubles in a single season.
In August, Pasquantino homered in five consecutive games and was named the AL Player of the Week — his second such honor during the 2025 season.
“It’s what I imagine myself as a hitter,” he said in August. “So I just want to keep going up there and having good at-bats and making things happen. I’ve got a lot of help around me. I hit in front of Bob (Bobby Witt Jr.) and in front of Maikel (Garcia). And both are All-Stars and both very deservedly.”
Perez hit .236 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs this season. And his 2025 campaign included multiple highlights. He eclipsed 300 career home runs and 1,000 RBIs in September and finished the year ranked first in doubles and second in hits among all AL catchers.
Perez also became just the second catcher — Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk being the other — to record 100 or more RBIs in his age-35 season.
“He’s been a staple in the game for a long time,” Royals staring pitcher Ryan Bergert said of Perez this season. “It’s been an honor to play with him and just watch him.”
Louisville Slugger first introduced the Silver Slugger Award in 1980. The prestigious honor rewards the best offensive players at each position. The finalists — and eventual winners — are voted on by MLB managers and coaches, who are unable to vote for players on their own teams.
This story was originally published October 23, 2025 at 10:57 AM with the headline "Bobby Witt Jr, Salvador Perez among Royals’ AL Silver Slugger Awards finalists."
