Zack Greinke wins 2019 Silver Slugger

In 2019, Greinke batted .280, including 1-for-2 as a Houston Astro after his trade there at the deadline. His on-base percentage this year was .308 - for comparison, Adam Jones’s was just five points higher. And Zack slugged a meaty .580, thanks to three home-runs in 50 at-bats. Of course, two of those came in the same game against San Diego (below) on April, making Greinke only the second pitcher in franchise history with a multi-homer game, along side Micah Owings. It was also the first two-HR game by a pitcher for exactly two years, since Madison Bumgarner of the Giants, on the same date in 2017. Oh, and Zack’s third blast came off some scrub called Kershaw.

All told, Greinke posted an OPS for the year of .888. That was the best in the majors by a pitcher (min 50 PA) since another Diamondback who was also traded at the deadline that season: Dan Haren in 2010. The .580 SLG was the highest by such a pitcher since Owings in 2007, with Brooke Kieschnick and Mike Hampton (* for Coors effect) the only other pitchers with a higher slugging percentage in the past sixty years. He also ran his perfect stolen-base career record to 9-0 as a Diamondback, but clearly felt the loss of Dave McKay’s advice, being caught in his very first attempt as an Astro. We’ll see who steps up to become the next Diamondback pitcher who rakes...