Red Sox Pair Abreu and Contreras Named Silver Slugger Finalists
Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras join a group of players competing for the 2026 award, with results to be announced in November.
By Gavin Wilson ·
Louisville Slugger named Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras as finalists for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards on Thursday. The two Boston Red Sox players are among the top candidates for hardware that recognizes offensive excellence in Major League Baseball.
Abreu, a right fielder, earned his third consecutive Gold Glove Award earlier this week for defensive performance. He batted .248 with a .773 OPS during the season. His 38 doubles set a new career high and led all of baseball. He also recorded personal bests in hits, home runs, runs, and runs batted in. Abreu led qualified American League outfielders in extra-base hits with 66.
Contreras, a first baseman, struggled with injuries and frequent hits by pitches during his first year in Boston. He still produced a career-high 27 home runs and posted a personal-best .901 OPS. He ranked in the 99th percentile in Batting Run Value. Contreras led the Red Sox in batting average and on-base percentage, finishing with a .386 OBP.
Contreras faces stiff competition from Pete Alonso, who led the American League with 43 home runs and 113 RBI for the Baltimore Orioles. Alonso finished first among qualified first basemen in slugging percentage. The award structure groups outfielders into a single category, meaning Abreu competes against players like Mike Trout of the Angels and Cody Bellinger of the Yankees rather than just right fielders.
Ceddanne Rafaela of the Red Sox was not named a finalist, though he posted a .285 average that was 38 points higher than any other qualified center fielder in the league. He led that group with 154 hits and 32 doubles. The team’s overall offense ranked below the league average in runs scored, home runs, and walks despite strong team averages in other categories.
The Red Sox have won 24 Silver Slugger awards since 1980. J.D. Martinez remains the only player to win two in a single season, achieving that feat in 2018. Rafael Devers won the award for the team last in 2023. The franchise had multiple winners in 2021 but only one finalist in 2025, Alex Bregman, who did not win.
Winners for the 2026 Silver Slugger Awards will be announced on November 17.
