Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and starting pitcher Jake Arrieta won their first National League Silver Slugger awards on Thursday.
Rizzo, who also won his first Gold Glove this week, hit .292 with 32 home runs, 43 doubles and 109 RBIs, with a .928 OPS. He's the second Silver Slugger winner at first in franchise history, after Derrek Lee. Leon Durham won as an outfielder in 1982.
Arrieta is the second Cubs pitcher to win one, after Carlos Zambrano, a three-time winner. He hit .262 this year with two home runs and seven RBI with a .720 OPS. Arrieta saw more pitches per plate appearances (4.36) than any other pitcher.
The awards, one for each position in the NL and AL, are voted upon by managers and coaches.
With Kris Bryant winning the NL Hank Aaron award, Theo Epstein being named Sporting News Executive of the Year, Rizzo and Jason Heyward winning Gold Gloves and Kyle Hendricks earning the Players Choice Outstanding NL Pitcher award, the Cubs are cleaning up so far.
The most significant awards from the Baseball Writers Association of America will be announced next week, with Bryant (MVP), Joe Maddon (Manager of the Year), Hendricks and Jon Lester (Cy Young) all finalists in their respective categories.
