Adam Wainwright – 2017 NL Silver Slugger Winner
Adam Wainwright has put together an outstanding career as a perennial ace pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. This year, however, Wainwright won a coveted honor for another skill altogether – his batting performance! Wainwright, who is now 36, won the 2017 National League Silver Slugger Award.
For the first time in his career, Wainwright was named the top hitting pitcher in the National League. He joins Bob Forsch (1980 & 1987) and Jason Marquis (2005) as the only Cardinals pitchers to win a Silver Slugger Award.
The annual award is given to the top offensive player at each position in each league, with winners selected through voting done by Major League managers and coaches.
Big Offensive Show Back in April
Wainwright highlighted his 2017 offensive push by collecting 4 RBIs in a win over the Brewers on April 21. He had 2 hits in that game, including a go-ahead, two-run homer into the second deck of Miller Park. It was the 19th two-hit game of Wainwright’s career, a total that ranks ninth all-time among Cardinals pitchers.
With the performance, Wainwright joined Bob Gibson as the only pitchers in franchise history to win a game and drive in at least 4 runs at least 2 times in his career.
Wainwright’s 2017 Batting Stats
Despite being hampered by elbow discomfort throughout 2017, which interrupted and shortened his season, Wainwright led all pitchers with 11 RBIs and 7 runs scored. Wainwright’s slugging percentage (.452) and OPS (.731) were tops among pitchers with at least 40 plate appearances.
Wainwright was also among the league leaders with extra-base hits: 4, home runs: 2 , doubles: 2, and total hits: 11. His .462 RISP (batting average with runners in scoring position), reflected the timeliness of his hitting.
Gary Reiner
Comfortably Numm 
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