Anthony Santander was one of four players to hit 40-plus home runs last season. He won his first career Silver Slugger and earned the prestigious Luis Aparicio Award as well. The Award is voted on and given to the best Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball.
The Award is voted on by Venezuelan journalists and Spanish-speaking media from around the world. Santander received 34 first-place votes and 44 second-place votes. Luis Arráez received more first-place votes but finished second. William Contreras, Jackson Chourio, and Salvador Pérez rounded out the top five.
Santander hit a career-high 44 home runs. He had 102 RBIs and 91 runs scored on the season as well.
He joins the following players to have won the award: – Johan Santana
– Miguel Cabrera
– Magglio Ordóñez
– Francisco Rodríguez – Félix Hernández
– Carlos González
– José Altuve
– Ronald Acuña Jr.
– Jesús Aguilar
– Eugenio Suárez
– Salvador Pérez
– Luis Arráez
The namesake of the award, Luis Aparicio, is the only Venezuelan-born player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He won Rookie of the Year in 1956 and is a 13-time All-Star. He won a World Series with the White Sox in 1959. He has 506 career stolen bases and 83 home runs.
