The Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists were announced Tuesday, and one former winner was notably omitted from the list.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor supported his outstanding season at the plate by playing superb defense at shortstop all season long. He posted a .979 fielding percentage at shortstop, fourth in the NL. He also ranked fourth in the most recent update of the SABR Defensive Index (SDI), a stat that comprises approximately 25 percent of the selection process, and is added to votes from major league managers and coaches.
Lindor was not among the NL leaders in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), though he did post a solid plus-2 in the stat. He also ranked in the 98th percentile in Statcast’s Outs Above Average (OAA) metric, behind only one other NL shortstop.
The finalists for the award include the St. Louis Cardinals’ Masyn Winn (the leader in SDI among NL shortstops), Chicago Cubs veteran Dansby Swanson (the leader in fielding percentage and OAA), and the Colorado Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar.
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Here is the complete list of finalists, comprised of the top three vote-getters at each position in each league:
American League Gold Glove finalists
Catcher
- Freddie Fermin, Kansas City Royals
- Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
- Jake Rogers, Detroit Tigers
First base
- Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
- Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
- Carlos Santana, Minnesota Twins
Second base
- Nicky Lopez, Chicago White Sox
- Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians
- Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
Third base
- Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
- José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
- Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
Shortstop
- Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
- Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
- Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians
Left field
- Alex Verdugo, New York Yankees
- Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles
- Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Center field
- Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
- Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
- Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays
Right field
- Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox
- Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
- Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Pitcher
- Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
- Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
- Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels
Utility
- Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros
- Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
- Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners
National League Gold Glove finalists
Catcher
- Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
- Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
First base
- Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Philles
- Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
- Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks
Second base
- Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
- Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
Third base
- Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
- Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
- Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants
Shortstop
- Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
- Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
- Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies
Left field
- Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies
- Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
- Loudres Gurriel Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks
Center field
- Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
- Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
- Blake Perkins, Milwaukee Brewers
Right field
- Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers
- Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants.
Pitcher
- Zack Wheeer, Philadelphia Phillies
- Luis Severino, New York Mets
- Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
Utility
- Kiké Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Brandan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
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### Additional Insight:
#### Francisco Lindor’s Defensive Performance:
Francisco Lindor’s omission from the final list of Gold Glove Award finalists despite his strong defensive performance raises questions about the selection process and criteria used to determine the finalists. Lindor’s solid statistics, such as his fielding percentage and ranking in the SDI, highlight his defensive prowess, suggesting that factors beyond just numerical metrics may have influenced the selection.
#### Competition Among Finalists:
The competition among the finalists in both the American League and National League showcases the depth of talent and skill in various positions. Each finalist has demonstrated exceptional defensive abilities throughout the season, making the final decision for the Gold Glove Award a tough one for voters and fans alike.
#### Importance of Defensive Metrics:
The use of advanced defensive metrics like SDI, DRS, and OAA plays a crucial role in evaluating players’ defensive performances objectively. While traditional stats like fielding percentage provide a basic overview, advanced metrics offer a more nuanced understanding of a player’s contributions on the field. Lindor’s case highlights the importance of considering a variety of metrics when assessing defensive excellence.
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