Ryan Braun wins fifth Silver Slugger

Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun was rewarded Thursday for having the best overall offensive season in the National League in 2012 by claiming his fifth consecutive Silver Slugger Award.

Silver Sluggers are awarded every year to the best offensive performers at their positions in each league in votes by the managers and coaches, who are not allowed to select players from their teams. Three outfielders are elected in each league with no regard to the exact position they play.

Braun, who has won the award in all five seasons in which he has played the outfield, led the NL with 41 home runs, 108 runs scored and a .987 OPS (on-base plus slugging). He was second with 112 runs batted in, 191 hits and a .595 slugging percentage, third with a .319 batting average and fourth with a .391 on-base percentage.

The other outfielders selected in the National League were Pittsburgh centerfielder Andrew McCutchen and Cincinnati rightfielder Jay Bruce.

Aramis Ramirez did not repeat at third base in the National League despite having a big offensive season -- .300, 50 doubles, 27 homers, 105 RBI. That honor went to San Diego's Chase Headley, who led the league with 115 RBI.


(jsonline.com)