The Kansas City Royals just pulled off something seriously wild, landing three players on the list for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards. Bobby Witt Jr., Carter Jensen, and Jac Caglianone are all up for the prize, and believe me, this ain’t no fluke. This team is showing off real power and serious speed at the plate, a total turnaround from what we’ve seen in years past. They are right there with teams like the White Sox, who have four finalists, and the Tigers, Brewers, and Cubs, who each snagged three of their own.
Witt Jr. Chasing Immortality, Jensen Rewriting the Record Books
Bobby Witt Jr., at just 26 years old, is staring down some serious history. He already took home the Silver Slugger in 2024 and 2025. If he wins again this year, he’d be the first American League shortstop to snag the award three straight times since the legendary Derek Jeter did it from 2006 to 2009. Think about that for a second. Even more, he’d be the first Royal *ever* to win three in a row. His numbers speak for themselves: 143 games played this season, crushing 18 homers, driving in 54 RBIs, and hitting a cool .281. Oh, and he stole 45 bases, good for second in the whole league. His 7.0 Wins Above Replacement statistic? Yeah, that ranked second in *all* of baseball. This dude is a legitimate force.
But don’t sleep on rookie catcher Carter Jensen, either. What he did this season is just absurd. He cranked out 27 home runs, absolutely demolishing the Royals franchise record for a catcher that Bob Hamelin set way back in 1994. And if that wasn’t enough, Jensen then set a new major league record with 64 extra-base hits. The previous record of 61? Held by Mike Piazza in 1993! Seriously, this kid is doing things no rookie catcher has ever done. He tied for first in homers among AL catchers, and ranked second in both RBIs and walks. If he brings home the hardware, he’ll join Salvador Perez as the only Royals catchers to ever win the award. He’s got some tough competition though, with Dillon Dingler from the Tigers also in the running.
Caglianone’s Outfield Power Surge Was Unstoppable
Then there’s Jac Caglianone, who absolutely lit up left field with his bat after a slow start to the season. His slash line was a spicy .289/.340/.494, and he mashed 23 dingers while bringing in 75 RBIs. Remember August? Caglianone went on an absolute tear, hitting .411 with 39 hits across 95 at-bats. That month alone earned him the AL Player of the Month award. His overall .834 OPS was ninth best in the entire league, putting him in elite company. He’s up against Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox for the outfield Silver Slugger. If Caglianone wins, he’d become only the second Royals outfielder to ever win the award, following in the footsteps of Willie Wilson, who won it in 1980 and 1982.
This kind of offensive firepower is something the Royals haven’t seen in ages. The franchise has spent years rebuilding, and now this young core is delivering results that seriously matter. Witt, Jensen, and Caglianone aren’t just playing well; they’re making history. The whole city is on the edge of its seat to see if these guys can actually pull off the sweep. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 17. You do NOT wanna miss this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply