Josh Donaldson to be presented Silver Slugger Award today

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson will be presented with his 2015 Silver Slugger Award prior to Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

Along with the reigning American League MVP being honoured in front of his former team, Sunday is also Josh Donaldson bobblehead day. Fans have reportedly been lining up outside the Rogers Centre since 8:00 this morning for their souvenirs.

In his first season with Toronto, Donaldson hit .297 with 41 home runs and 123 runs batted in. When combined with his excellent defence and base running, Donaldson earned an 8.7 fWAR and helped carry the Blue Jays to their first playoff appearance in over two decades.

Donaldson is the 18th different Blue Jays player to win a Silver Slugger Award, the first being second-baseman Damaso Garcia in 1982 and the most recent being teammate Jose Bautista in 2011. Kelly Gruber was the only other Toronto third baseman to earn the honour back in 1990.

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After signing an extension this past offseason, Donaldson has picked up right where he left off at the plate and in the field.

His home run on Saturday against Oakland gave him the American League lead with seven, and Donaldson already has 19 RBIs to go along with an OPS of 1.068.

Still just 30 years old and batting second in one of baseball’s most feared lineups, Donaldson is looking to join Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado, and Jose Bautista as the only Blue Jays players to win back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards.