Red Sox’ Xander Bogaerts wins AL Silver Slugger Award at shortstop

The Red Sox’ 2015 season has a silver lining for Xander Bogaerts.

Boston’s 23-year-old breakout star was named the American League’s recipient of the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop on Thursday evening. The Silver Slugger awards are annually presented to the best offensive player at each position, as voted on by coaches and managers.

Xander Bogaerts wins first AL #SilverSlugger Award at shortstop. pic.twitter.com/gXydL6KTlp

— MLB (@MLB) November 12, 2015

Bogaerts’ batting average (.320) in 2015 was second in the AL, ranking only behind Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers (.338). He entered the season with a career .241 average in 162 games in the major leagues.

Your 2015 AL SS #SilverSlugger: .320 AVG 196 hits 81 RBI .355 OBP #Xman ❌ pic.twitter.com/e3ly4EqXkt

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) November 12, 2015

Bogaerts, who turned 23 on Oct. 1, became the youngest Red Sox player ever to win a Silver Slugger Award. He is also among the youngest-ever AL winners at shortstop.

Youngest AL Silver Sluggers at SS: Xander Bogaerts, 2015 (22) Alex Rodriguez, 1998 (22) Alex Rodriguez, 1996 (20) Cal Ripken Jr., 1983 (22)

— Jon Shestakofsky (@Shesta_Sox) November 12, 2015

The only other Red Sox players to win a Silver Slugger at shortstop before Bogaerts were Nomar Garciaparra (1997) and John Valentin (1995).