Brice Turang has put himself in position to do something no Brewers second baseman has ever done: win a Silver Slugger Award.
That possibility is a little more real now than it was a year ago. Turang was already in the mix last season, when he finished as a finalist alongside William Contreras and Christian Yelich, but Milwaukee walked away empty-handed. Turang’s competition then included Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs and Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Marte ended up taking the award for the second straight year even though plenty of people felt Turang had the stronger case.
This season, Turang is building a better one. He’s on track to top several of the career highs he set last year, including doubles, home runs, and RBI. If that production keeps rolling, he won’t just be making a stronger individual case - he’d also be breaking new ground for the franchise.
Since the Silver Slugger Awards debuted in 1980, the Brewers have had a handful of second basemen reach finalist status, including Jim Gantner, Rickie Weeks, Scooter Gennett, Keston Hiura, and Turang. None of them finished the job. That’s the hurdle Turang is trying to clear now.
With 59 games left in the regular season, Turang has already matched his career high with 28 doubles. He’s one homer away from tying last year’s best total of 18, and three RBI short of matching his personal high of 81.
The numbers stack up well against the rest of the National League at second base, too. Turang is second in OPS behind Luis Arraez of the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, second in OBP behind Xavier Edwards of the Miami Marlins, and second in RBI behind Brandon Lowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s tied for first in doubles, sits fourth in homers, and has drawn more walks than any other National League second baseman.
If he finishes strong, Turang could finally end Milwaukee’s long wait for a Silver Slugger at the position. His three-run home run against the New York Mets on Wednesday night might have been the kind of swing that gets him going after a recent slump, and his steady climb as a hitter has made him one of the Brewers’ most compelling bats to watch. Now he just needs the finish to match the season.
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