San Diego Padres’ Chase Headley adds more silverware with Silver Slugger Award - MLB News
San Diego Padres’ Chase Headley is on a roll. He was the National League’s Player of the Month for August and September, he won his first Gold Glove and the third baseman has bagged the Silver Slugger Award. He is the only player in Padres’ history to hit
30 or more runs in consecutive months.
It has been a long time coming too. The last Padres’ player to win the prestigious award was second baseman Mark Loretta in 2004. Chase became the 10th Padres’ player to win the award. It was the eight such occurrence in National League that the
third baseman won both Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Award in the same year.
The prestigious award that started in 1980 is voted for by managers and coaches of both American and National Leagues. The voters are barred from balloting for a player of their own team.
The 28-year-old maintained a batting average of .286 and an on-base percentage of .376 during the season. In his 604 at-bats during 161 regular season games, he hit 31 home-runs and had 115 RBI’s. The right-hander lead the National League in RBI’s in 2012
and he also stole 17 bases.
"To Chase's credit, his mindset has shifted to where he's now the aggressor," said Padres’ manager Bud Black said in the course of the season. "You can say that early in his career, the pitcher took it to him. Now he is taking it to the pitcher."
Chase was given a tough time for the award by the New York Mets’ third baseman David Wright who had a higher average of .306 and had five more hits during the course of the regular season than the Padres’ hitter.
Despite success, Headley has kept his feet grounded. He has not craved attention and preferred to shed more light on his team mates instead.
"There have been so many more opportunities," Headley said in October on having chances to hit with runners on base. "The second half has been incredibly enjoyable, especially being around these guys."
Chase made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2007. Since 2009, he has been a regular feature in the team and has had decent numbers to justify his spot. The 2012 season has certainly been the best year of his career from every perspective. In the
six Major League seasons, Headley has only represented the San Diego Padres’.
Before reaching the Major Leagues, he had played for several Minor League teams where he performed exceptionally well. He was a star player in both basketball and baseball for his high school. Chase started playing as a third baseman for the University of
Tennessee in his sophomore year.
The year for the third baseman has been exceptional and he will certainly like to build upon his performance in the coming season. Padres’ certainly have found a great player in the making and will be looking to persevere with this excellent athlete.
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