He’s a hit: Dodgers’ Zack Greinke earns Silver Slugger award

They signed him to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Zack Greinke did not disappoint, going 15-4 with a 2.63 earned-run average.

But as an added bonus, the Dodgers also got the best-hitting pitcher in baseball.

For his efforts, Greinke on Wednesday was named winner of the 2013 Silver Slugger award for best offensive player as a pitcher.

In 58 at-bats this season, Greinke hit .328 –- better than any Dodger not named Hanley Ramirez (.345). Three of his 19 hits went for doubles, and he had a .409 on-base percentage.

Until this season, Greinke had hit a combined .170 in eight seasons (over six in the American League).

Tweeted catcher A.J. Ellis: “Congrats on Silver Slugger to best pure hitter on @Dodgers Zack Greinke. We will never hear the end of this one.”

Since 1974, Greinke’s batting average was the second-highest by a Dodgers pitcher (Orel Hershiser hit .356 in 1993), while his on-base percentage was the highest during that period.