Four White Sox Players Named Finalists for AL Silver Slugger Awards

Four different Chicago White Sox players have been named finalists for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards.

The Silver Slugger Award is presented annually to the best offensive player at each position in each league. And for a White Sox offense that ranked in the top five in key categories like OPS, home runs, and runs scored in 2026, it only makes sense that Chicago has more Silver Slugger finalists than any other team in baseball.

Chase Meidroth is one of two finalists at second base, alongside Kody Clemens of the Minnesota Twins. Meidroth hit .276 with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .765 OPS in 2026. I felt he was worthy of an All-Star appearance at the time, as well as the Gold Glove Award, which he was also named a finalist for but ultimately came up short of winning. I'd anticipate more of the same here for Meidroth.

Clemens hit 27 home runs with 81 RBIs and a .758 OPS for Minnesota, really serving as a run producer and middle-of-the-order bat for a significant chunk of the season.

Miguel Vargas is one of two finalists at third base, alongside Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays. Vargas became just the seventh player in MLB history to record 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 90 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, 100 runs, and 100 walks in a single season.

The others are Bobby Abreu, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Paul Goldschmidt, Chipper Jones, and José Ramírez. That's pretty good company.

Still, he likely won't win the Silver Slugger Award. Caminero played in all 162 games for the Rays, hitting 42 home runs with 101 RBIs and an .885 OPS. That makes him more than deserving of the honor, even if Vargas is probably the more well-rounded player.

In the outfield, there's no distinction between individual positions. The three best offensive outfielders are awarded Silver Sluggers, and nine outfielders are named finalists. Tristan Peters is among them.

Peters finished the year hitting .265 with a .774 OPS, 31 doubles, 12 home runs, and 56 RBIs. He also hit for the cycle and had a stretch of five consecutive games with a home run that made him a name to know for baseball fans across the country.

Peters is unlikely to take home the Silver Slugger, but even being nominated and having a puncher's chance is a testament to the fantastic and unexpected season he had in his first real MLB action.

Sam Antonacci is the final White Sox finalist. While Antonacci spent most of his innings in left field for the White Sox this year, he's officially been named a finalist in the utility category, alongside Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers.

McGonigle is likely to steal the AL Rookie of the Year Award and the Silver Slugger from Antonacci. But Antonacci deserves a ton of credit for hitting .277 with a .370 on-base percentage and a league-high 29 hit-by-pitches.

Antonacci was a catalyst for this White Sox team and will continue to be that in the future. He won't have the flashiest offensive numbers, but if you watch every White Sox game, you know the impact Antonacci has on the lineup and the team's overall success. He's a winning player who helps the team score runs. It's nice to see that recognized on a national scale, even if it's with something as simple as being named a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award.

The White Sox have more finalists for the Silver Slugger Award than any other team and were also named a finalist in the American League for Offensive Team of the Year, alongside the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and Minnesota Twins.

What a long way the White Sox have come, from the laughingstock of baseball to one of the most feared offenses in the sport. And the best part may still be yet to come.