October 18, 2023

The 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists were announced on Wednesday, with the winners to be presented on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Each position, including the utility spot, has three American and National League finalists. These were the top three vote-getters for each award.

The voting process is determined by 30 MLB managers and six coaches from each team who vote for players in their league, excluding their team players. This voting process from the managers and coaches comprises 75% of the vote, while 25% comes from the SABR Defensive Index. The utility position is determined by Rawlings and SABR, who created a specialized defensive formula separate from the other positions’ selection process.

Defensive Statistics Explained:

DRS: Total Defensive Runs Saved – indicates how many runs a player saved or hurt his team in the field compared to the average player in his position.

FLD%: Fielding Percentage – the total number of putouts and assists by a defender, divided by the total number of chances (putouts, assists and errors).

OAA: Outs Above Average – the cumulative effect of all individual plays a fielder has been credited or debited with, making it a range-based metric of fielding skill that accounts for the number of plays made and the difficulty of them.

CFR: Catcher Framing Runs – converts strikes to runs saved on a .125 run/strike basis and includes park and pitcher adjustments.

Presented are the 2023 Gold Glove Award finalists:

American League

First Base

Anthony Rizzo, NYY: .995 FLD%, 3 DRS, 6 OAA

Nathaniel Lowe, TEX: .998 FLD%, 3 DRS, 4 OAA

Ryan Mountcastle, BAL: .997 FLD%, 2 DRS, -1 OAA

While Lowe and Mountcastle seek their first award, Rizzo is a four-time Gold Glover. Rizzo led all AL first basemen in Outs Above Average and was second overall among first basemen.

Second Base

Andrés Giménez, CLE: .991 FLD%, 23 DRS, 18 OAA

Mauricio Dubón, HOU: .983 FLD%, 5 DRS, -1 OAA

Marcus Semien, TEX: .991 FLD%, 16 DRS, 15 OAA

Giménez is the defending Gold Glove Award winner at second base for the AL, while Marcus Semien won in 2021 and lost to Giménez in 2022. Dubón is seeking his first career Gold Glove Award in his first season in Houston. Giménez led all AL second basemen in OAA with +18.

Third Base

Alex Bregman, HOU: .963 FLD%, 5 DRS, 1 OAA

Jose Ramirez, CLE: .956 FLD%, 1 DRS, 6 OAA

Matt Chapman, TOR: .968 FLD%, 12 DRS, 5 OAA

Matt Chapman stands out on this list with his catalog of Gold Gloves (three-time winner) and a two-time Platinum Glove winner. Bregman and Ramirez have won the Silver Slugger Award, but neither have won a Gold Glove in their well-respected careers.

Shortstop

Carlos Correa, MIN: .987 FLD%, -2 DRS, 1 OAA

Corey Seager, TEX: .981 FLD%, 5 DRS, -1 OAA.

Anthony Volpe, NYY: .986 FLD%, 14 DRS, 1 OAA

Yankees Rookie Anthony Volpe took over the shortstop job for the Pinstripes and tied for the AL among SS in DRS. Correa looks for his second Gold Glove in three seasons, and Seager would be a first-time winner. In Seager’s press conference Wednesday prior to Game Three of the ALCS, he talked about being a finalist and said, “Anytime you can be considered for any of the awards, it’s an accomplishment…you’re trying to improve always, and a little bit of the positioning has helped.”

Left Field

Austin Hays, BAL: 1.000 FLD%, 6 DRS, 1 OAA

Steven Kwan, CLE: .989 FLD%, 16 DRS, 9 OAA

Daulton Varsho, TOR: .997 FLD%, 29 DRS, 1 OAA

Kwan won the AL Gold Glove Award in left field last year, and Kwan leads all of AL/NL in Outs Above Average. Meanwhile, Varsho was a finalist in the NL last year in right field. Hays is a first-time All-Star this season and could be a first-time Gold Glover.

Center Field

Julio Rodríguez, SEA: .994 FLD%, -5 DRS, 12 OAA

Kevin Kiermaier, TOR: .997 FLD%, 19 DRS, 13 OAA

Luis Robert Jr., CWS: .992 FLD%, 7 DRS, 13 OAA.

Star playmakers in center field make this competition tough. Kiermaier already hoisted three Gold Gloves, Luis Robert has one Gold Glove himself, and J-Rod is an electric young star. These were the top three center fielders for the AL in Outs Above Average.

Right Field

Adolis García, TEX: .981 FLD%, 6 DRS, 3 OAA

Alex Verdugo, BOS: .990 FLD%, 9 DRS, 1 OAA

Kyle Tucker, HOU: .990 FLD%, 1 DRS, -4 OAA

Tucker is the reigning Gold Glove Award winner last season in the AL. Verdugo and García both look to win their first Gold Glove. Verdugo led AL right fielders in Defensive Runs Saved, while García was third.

Catcher

Adley Rutschman, BAL: .994 FLD%, 2 DRS, 5 CFR

Alejandro Kirk. TOR: .993 FLD%, 17 DRS, 5 CFR

Jonah Heim, TEX: .998 FLD%, 6 DRS, 10 CFR

Heim was third in AL in Catcher Framing Runs, behind teammate Austin Hedges. Kirk led AL catchers in Defensive Runs Saved with 17. Rutschman has helped the Orioles in their pitching staff to become successful and overall had a balanced season.

Pitcher

Jose Berrios, TOR: .953 FLD%, 5 DRS

Pablo Lopez, MIN: .968 FLD%, 4 DRS

Sonny Gray, MIN: 1.000 FLD%, 4 DRS

Twins teammates Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez make the list. All three pitchers have been All-Stars, but none have been Gold Glovers. All three pitchers were a part of the Wild Card series against each other, where the Twins advanced.

Utility

Mauricio Dubon, HOU: .983 FLD%, 5 DRS, 3 OAA

Zach McKinstry, DET: .975 FLD%, 2 DRS, 4 OAA

Taylor Walls, TB: .975 FLD%, 10 DRS, -6 OAA

Dubón is the only 2023 AL Gold Glove Award finalist in multiple spots, as he was also voted for second base. Dubón also played center field for the Astros and was excellent. McKinstry played more than 20 games at third base, second base, shortstop, right field, and left field for the Tigers. Walls played second base, third base, and shortstop for the Rays. All three players search for their first Gold Glove Award.

National League

First Base

Carlos Santana, PIT/MIL: .993 FLD%, 11 DRS, 2 OAA

Christian Walker, ARI: .998 FLD%, 9 DRS, 12 OAA

Freddie Freeman, LA: .998 FLD%, -8 DRS, 3 OAA

Walker looks to go back-to-back after his Gold Glove Award win in 2022. He led all first basemen in Outs Above Average with +12. Santana led the AL/NL first basemen in Defensive Runs Saved with 11. Freddie Freeman has one Gold Glove to his name, back when he played for the Braves.

Second Base

Bryson Stott, PHI: .992 FLD%, 7 DRS, 16 OAA

Ha-Seong Kim, SD: .988 FLD%, 16 DRS, 14 OAA

Nico Hoerner, CHC: .987 FLD%, 13 DRS, 7 OAA

Oddly enough, all three players moved to second base after their respective ballclub signed a big-name shortstop in free agency (PHI – Trea Turner, SD – Xander Bogaerts, CHC – Dansby Swanson). Stott and Hoerner were top five in AL/NL Outs Above Average as second basemen, while Kim was seventh with seven.

Third Base

Austin Riley, ATL: .972 FLD%, 9 DRS, 0 OAA

Ke’Bryan Hayes, PIT: .984 FLD%, 21 DRS, 17 OAA

Ryan McMahon, COL: .972 FLD%, 17 DRS, 11 OAA

For the first time since 2012, the NL will not have Nolan Arenado as the recipient of the Gold Glove Award. Hayes led all third basemen in OAA, while McMahon is fourth. All three players are seeking their first Gold Glove Award.

Shortstop

Dansby Swanson, CHC: .981 FLD%, 18 DRS, 20 OAA

Ezequiel Tovar, COL: .988 FLD%, 13 DRS, 16 OAA

Francisco Lindor, NYM: .981 FLD%, 7 DRS, 6 OAA

Lindor has won two Gold Glove Awards previously with Cleveland. Swanson defends his crown after leaving the Braves last year. As a rookie, Tovar has established himself as a solidified defender for the Rockies. Swanson led all Major Leaguers with +20 OAA, and Tovar ranks third with 16 OAA.

Left Field

David Peralta, LAD: .990 FLD%, 8 DRS, -3 OAA

Eddie Rosario, ATL: .983 FLD%, 3 DRS, 3 OAA

Ian Happ, CHC: .989 FLD%, 1 DRS, -7 OAA

Happ is the reigning Gold Glove winner for NL left field, winning the award in 2022. Eddie Rosario looks for his first Gold Glove and ranks second in the NL for OAA. Peralta looks for his second career Gold Glove and owns an impressive .990 Fielding Percentage.

Center Field

Alek Thomas, ARI: .993 FLD%, 5 DRS, 5 OAA

Brenton Doyle, COL: .997 FLD%, 19 DRS, 16 OAA

Michael Harris II, ATL: .994 FLD%, 2 DRS, 7 OAA

All three finalists would be first-time Gold Glove Award winners. Doyle leads all center fielders in Outs Above Average, while Harris and Thomas anchored center field for playoff teams this October.

Right Field

Fernando Tatis Jr., SD: .980 FLD%, 27 DRS, 11 OAA

Lane Thomas, WSH: .986 FLD%, 1 DRS, -1 OAA

Mookie Betts, LAD: .988 FLD%, 10 DRS, -3 OAA

Tatis moved from shortstop to right field after Xander Bogaerts signed for the Padres this offseason, and Tatis proved to be valuable in the outfield. Tatis was second among Major Leaguers in Defensive Runs Saved with 27. Mookie Betts has won six Gold Gloves and looks to continue his dominance. Lane Thomas and Tatis look for their first Gold Glove Award.

Catcher

Gabriel Moreno, ARI: .997 FLD%, 20 DRS, -2 CFR

J.T. Realmuto, PHI: .998 FLD%, -4 DRS, -13 CFR

Patrick Bailey, SF: .984 FLD%, 13 DRS, 16 CFR

J.T. Realmuto looks to defend his Gold Glove Award after winning in 2022 and his third overall. Bailey, a rookie in 2023, led all catchers in the majors in CFR, while Moreno excelled at defending the bases, with an MLB-best +9 caught stealings above average. It will be a tight race for the Gold Glove Award for the NL Catcher position.

Pitcher

Jesús Luzardo, MIA: .903 FLD%, 7 DRS

Taijuan Walker, PHI: 1.000 FLD%, 5 DRS

Zack Wheeler, PHI: .969 FLD%, 4 DRS

The NL Gold Glove Award for the pitcher position is finally up for grabs. In the past nine years, Zach Greinke won from 2014-2019, followed by Max Fried from 2020-2022. With Fried’s injury-riddled season, the award can go to a new pitcher. Coincidentally, like the AL Pitcher Gold Glove Award, these three players between two teams matched up in the Wild Card.

Utility

Ha-Seong Kim, SD: .988 FLD%, 16 DRS, 10 OAA

Mookie Betts, LAD: .988 FLD%, 10 DRS, -4 OAA

Tommy Edman, STL: .986 FLD%, 2 DRS, 10 OAA

Mookie Betts moved all around the field this year defensively when the Dodgers needed help in the infield. Betts played 70 games at second base and 16 at shortstop in addition to his 107 in right field. Edman, the 2021 NL Gold Glove Award winner at second base, also played different positions for the Cardinals this year. Kim, who is also a finalist at second base, played 32 games at third base and 20 games at shortstop.

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