Beltre leads Silver Slugger honorees

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre won his fourth Silver Slugger Award on Thursday and three players were honored for the third straight year.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and Washington Nationals outfielder Ian Desmond were the three-peaters.

Trout has won the award in each of his first three major league seasons, joining Mike Piazza (1993-95) as the second player to do so.

The Silver Slugger Awards, sponsored by Louisville Slugger, annually honor the top hitter at each position in the American and National leagues as voted upon by managers and coaches.

First-time winners included Chicago White Sox rookie first baseman Jose Abreu, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley and catcher Yan Gomes, San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and Pirates second baseman Neil Walker.

Also on the American League team were White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista.

The National League team included Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Upton and Giants catcher Buster Posey.

For winning the award, Beltre, Gonzalez and Martinez received $100,000 bonuses. Trout picked up $75,000, and Brantley, Bumgarner and Posey collected $50,000 each.