Top 3 slugging seasons in Diamondbacks history
Pitchers beware...
Top 3 slugging seasons in Diamondbacks history
As a club, the Diamondbacks are 8th in the league in slugging percentage this season (.420). They are 8th in doubles, 2nd in triples, and 18th in homers.
Their team leader in slugging percentage is first baseman Christian Walker. He is 9th in the league in that department while also ranking 4th in two-baggers.
Arizona has a rich history of established hitters, anywhere from the likes of Luis Gonzalez to Justin Upton. Oh yeah, how about Steve Finley or Miguel Montero? The list could go on and on.
I'm heading down memory lane. Will you join me? Let’s take a look back at the top 3 slugging seasons in franchise history. Guys that would not only hit the ball but hit the ball with lots of power.
Diamondbacks best slugging seasons: 2015 Paul Goldschmidt
It still hurts, doesn’t it?
I wonder when the wound will heal from this trade. The Diamondbacks front office definitely fumbled the bag when they moved on from the best position player in franchise history. But the past is the past right? Time to look ahead.
Goldschmidt had a season to remember in 2015. His team-leading .570 slugging percentage was 4th in the MLB. He also added 38 doubles, 33 HRs, and 110 RBIs.
He ended up finishing second in the NL MVP voting only trailing Bryce Harper in awards share.
Diamondbacks best slugging seasons: 2019 Ketel Marte
Does anybody else feel like Ketel Marte is one of the most underrated players in the league?
Ketel is having himself a nice little season in 2023. He has an .839 OPS with 76 runs scored, 45 extra-base hits, and 62 RBIs.
In 2019, Ketel was bashing the ball all over the ballpark. Among NL hitters, he was 4th in slugging percentage (.592), 4th in OPS (.981), and 2nd in triples (9).
He was also 2nd in all of baseball in batting average (.329)! Marte finished 4th in the NL MVP voting that season as he led Arizona to an 85-77 season.
Diamondbacks best slugging seasons: 2001 Luis Gonzalez
Saving the best season for last. Luis Gonzalez was a dog.
When looking at Diamondbacks team history, Gonzalez tends to be the owner of the stat sheet. When it comes to all-time totals, Luis is first in the following categories: runs, hits, doubles, homers, RBIs, average, and strikeout percentage.
In 2001, Gonzalez led Arizona to its first and still only World Series pennant. Gonzalez’s .688 slugging percentage that season was 3rd among all NL hitters and to this day, it is still the highest season mark in team history.
He also finished 4th in extra-base hits, 3rd in homers, and 3rd in RBIs that season. He played all 162 regular season games and finished 3rd in NL MVP voting.