NL Silver Slugger finalists highlight Padres’ proven pedigree and unsung hero

Manny Machado is an automatic thought for Padres fans when it comes to considering who is among the best hitters in the game. On track to becoming one of the greatest Friars of all-time, Machado and his smooth right-handed swing have garnered more recognition, which comes in the form of his proven prowess at the dish.

On the other hand, a player like Jake Cronenworth is often forgotten about, or even completely overlooked, when fans argue about the most reliable and versatile hitters in baseball.

Either way you slice it, both Machado and Cronenworth have reached the same point in the chase for an award. As well-earned representatives of the San Diego Padres this season - announced by FanSided - the 2025 National League Silver Slugger finalists have been revealed, and Machado (third base) and Cronenworth (utility) are each in contention of winning the award.

Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth named NL Silver Slugger finalists for 2025 season

Machado will be going up against Matt Chapman (Giants), Max Muncy (Dodgers), and Austin Riley (Braves) for the Silver Slugger Award at third base.

Cronenworth is stacked against two Cardinals in the utility department: Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan.

Manny Machado

Machado is a two-time Silver Slugger, and was the winner in 2024. This season, Friars fans have to love Machado's chances of securing a second-straight (and third overall) trophy. Among his competitors, Machado is tied with Chapman for highest bWAR (4.1), but leads the entire field in home runs (27), RBIs (95), hits (169), batting average (.275), and extra-base hits (60).

Muncy leads the pack in OPS and OPS+, but he played in 59 less games than Machado. Longevity should ideally favor Machado.

Jake Cronenworth

Cronenworth, who has never won the Silver Slugger Award, has the odds stacked against him. The only leading metric he has among Donovan and Burleson is his on-base percentage (.367). Besides that, Burlseon leads the charge in just about every important metric, including: home runs (18), RBIs (69), OPS (.801), OPS+ (125), batting average (.290), and extra-base hits (46).

With one of the most picturesque left-handed home run swings, Cronenworth is often not discussed in a lineup saturated by star power. Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill steal the headlines for the most part. So it's a breath of fresh air to see Cronenworth in the mix for a batting award, even if his chances are slim of winning it.

Here is the full list of Silver Slugger finalists in the National League for the 2025 season.

Winners will be announced on Nov. 6, and be sure to tune in exclusively on the Baseball Insiders YouTube channel to follow along with Robert Murray's analysis of the winners..