Justin Upton and Daniel Hudson Win 2011 Silver Slugger Awards

Let's just go with the press-release on this one.

Diamondbacks' outfielder Justin Upton and right-handed pitcher Daniel Hudson have been named the Louisville Slugger 2011 Silver Slugger Award recipients for the National League at outfielder and pitcher, respectively, as announced by Louisville Slugger this afternoon. Upton, 24, and Hudson, 24, are the third and fourth players in D-backs history to earn a Silver Slugger Award, joining outfielder Luis Gonzalez in 2001 and right-handed pitcher Micah Owings in 2007.

The award recognizes the players who were the best offensive producers at each position in both leagues as voted by Major League Baseball managers and coaches with selections based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the managers' and coaches' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value. The Silver Slugger Award trophy is three feet tall (!) and bears the engraved name of the winner and his Silver Slugger teammates in his respective league.

Upton hit .289 (171-for-592) with 105 runs scored, 39 doubles, 5 triples, 31 home runs, 88 RBI and 313 total bases in 159 games along with 21 stolen bases, a .369 on-base percentage, .529 slugging percentage and .898 OPS. The rightfielder, who was named a 2011 NL All-Star and the D-backs MVP from the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA, set careers highs in games, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, extra-base hits (75), RBI, stolen bases and on-base percentage.

Among NL outfielders, he ranked tied for first in doubles, third in runs scored and total bases, fifth in hits, slugging percentage, tied for fifth in home runs, sixth in OPS, seventh in on-base percentage, tied for ninth in RBI and 11th in average. Among NL leaders, he ranked tied for second in doubles, third in runs scored, extra-base hits and home batting average (.333), fifth in total bases, 10th in slugging percentage and 11th in OPS and also tied for first with 19 hit-by-pitches.

Upton's 31 home runs and 21 stolen bases made him one of six player to accomplish the feat this season along with the Brewers' Ryan Braun (33 HR, 33 SB), Red Sox's Jacoby Ellsbury (32 HR, 39 SB), Yankees' Curtis Granderson (41 HR, 25 SB), Dodgers' Matt Kemp (39 HR, 40 SB) and Rangers' Ian Kinsler (32 HR, 30 SB). Upton was NL Player of the Week for June 13-19 and July 18-24 (co-winner). Upton's streak of an extra-base hit in 10 straight games from July 20-30 was the longest streak in the Majors this season and one of only 12 players since 1887 with such a streak. Upton had a season-high 14-game hitting streak from July 19-Aug. 2 (.431, 22-for-51).

Hudson hit .277 (18-for-65) with 5 runs scored, 3 doubles, a home run, 14 RBI in 33 starts along with a .309 on-base percentage, a .369 slugging percentage and a .678 OPS. Among all pitchers (min. 50 plate appearances), Hudson ranked first in average, hits, total bases (24), RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. His 14 RBI tied for third-most in a season since 1998 (min. 50 plate appearances). With runners in scoring position, Hudson's .389 average (7-for-18) and 12 RBI were tops among all pitchers (min. 20 plate appearances) this season while his RBI were second-most and his average tied for fourth-highest in a season since 1998.

"I am very excited about receiving the Silver Slugger Award and honored to be recognized along with all of the other winners this season," said Hudson. "There are so many great pitchers who excel at the plate so it's flattering to have my name mentioned in the same sentence. I take great pride in my contributions as a hitter and being able to impact games both on the mound and at the plate. Finally, I would like to thank my manager, coaches, teammates and others who've helped me along the way."