|| Cesar Mendez Campero
|| Courtesy photo
José Altuve, Salvador Pérez, Omar Narváez and German Márquez are the four Venezuelans who appear among this year’s finalists for the 2021 Silver Bate Awards, which recognize the best sluggers for each position in the two leagues.
Louisville Slugger, Major League Baseball’s official bat, announced yesterday the finalists, who are chosen by managers and coaches from each circuit.
In the young circuit, Altuve, a native of the El Paseo urbanization, Mario Briceño Iragorry municipality and a record for the Houston stars, competes with waiters Marcus Semien (Toronto), DJ LeMahieu (Yankees) and Jorge Polanco (Minnesota).
Carabobeño Pérez, receiver for the Kansas City Royals, is coming off an impressive offensive display in which he set a new home run record for a catcher in the Major Leagues with 49 home runs in one season. He also chartered 121 lines. The other finalists are Mike Zunino (Tampa Bay) and Gary Sánchez (Yankees).
Omar Narváez, Maracayero for the Milwaukee Brewers, is listed alongside fellow catchers Buste Posey (Giants), JT Realmuto (Phillies) and Will Smith (Dodgers), as contenders for the award in the National League.
Meanwhile, German Márquez, a right-hander who is part of the Colorado Rockies rotation, is opting for this recognition along with Max Fried (Atlanta), Jacob deGrom (Mets) and Madison Bumgarner (Arizona).
The winners will be announced in a special broadcast on the MLB Network on November 11 at 6:00 pm. This award was presented for the first time in 1980.
