The top defensive players across the diamond are being honored right now for their glovework this season, named as winners of 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards live in an hourlong “Baseball Tonight” special on ESPN2.
Three finalists were named at each position in both leagues, and this year’s group of Gold Glove winners includes a utility spot from each league for the first time.
Below are the winners of 2022 Gold Glove Awards as they’re announced.
Catcher: JT Realmuto, Phillies
Before impressing with his prowess behind the plate and, more prominently, at the plate during this postseason, Realmuto turned in yet another great defensive campaign for Philadelphia. The 31-year-old led all qualified MLB catchers with a 44 percent caught-stealing rate, the second time he’s led the Majors in that department (also in 2019, 47 percent). He also led all NL catchers with 11 DRS. This year’s honor is Realmuto’s second career Gold Glove (also 2019), and he’s the only Phillies player to receive the award since shortstop Jimmy Rollins in 2012.
First base: Christian Walker, D-backs
Walker quietly put together a tremendous season in 2022, both at the plate and defensively. He launched a career-high 36 homers and posted an .804 OPS for Arizona this year, but he was also excellent at first base, easily leading all MLB first basemen with 17 DRS and 14 Outs Above Average. It’s Walker’s first Gold Glove, and he is the second D-backs first baseman to win the honor, joining Paul Goldschmidt (2013, ’15 and ’17).
Second base: Brendan Rodgers, Rockies
Rodgers is one of the bigger surprises among the Gold Glove Award winners — not only did he easily lead all MLB second basemen in DRS with 22, but he was second among all players in that category, behind only Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (24). Rodgers did that despite some struggles in the field, particularly during the first half of the season.
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson, Braves
In addition to being selected to his first All-Star team in 2022, Swanson also won his first career Gold Glove Award, and the third Gold Glove for a shortstop in Braves history (Andrelton Simmons won the honor at the position in both 2013 and ‘ 14). Swanson led all NL players with 21 Outs Above Average, an increase of 19 from his 2021 total.
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Arenado earned his 10th Gold Glove Award in 10 Major League seasons, tying Ichiro for most consecutive Gold Gloves to begin an MLB career. Arenado also tied Phillies legend and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt for the second-most Gold Glove Awards by a third baseman in Major League history, trailing only Brooks Robinson (16). Arenado led all third basemen with an ultimate zone rating of 13, and he was second behind Hayes with 15 Outs Above Average.
Catcher: Jose Trevino, Yankees
Trevino is the third player in Yankees history to win a Gold Glove Award at the catcher position, joining Thurman Munson (1973-75) and Elston Howard (1963-64). Trevino led all Major League catchers with 21 defensive runs saved, which was also tied for the third-most Defensive Runs Saved in baseball, regardless of position.
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Guerrero is another first-time Gold Glove winner. He had 3 DRS at first base for Toronto (a career best) and also became the first player in franchise history to win the award at first base. It marks the second straight year a Blue Jays position player has won a Gold Glove Award (Marcus Semien won at second base last year) after a 15-year drought.
Second base: Andrés Giménez, Guardians
Giménez enjoyed a breakout season at the plate in 2022, posting an .837 OPS with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases, but he also shone defensively to garner his first Gold Glove. The 24-year-old led all AL second basemen with 16 DRS, and he also had 12 Outs Above Average, per Statcast. He’s the third Cleveland player to win a Gold Glove at second base, joining César Hernández (2020) and Roberto Alomar (1999-2001).
Shortstop: Jeremy Peña, Astros
If it wasn’t enough that Peña introduced himself to the wider baseball world with a huge homer in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the AL Division Series against the Mariners — following that up with AL Championship Series MVP honors against the Yankees — the 25-year-old rookie has now added a Gold Glove Award to his resume. Peña finished the regular season tied with the Marlins’ Miguel Rojas for most DRS among MLB shortstops, with 15. Peña is the first Astros rookie to win a Gold Glove, and the third player in franchise history to win one at shortstop. He joins the man he replaced, Carlos Correa (2021), and Roger Metzger (1973). Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Peña is also the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove.
Third base: Ramón Urías, Orioles
The Orioles surprised the baseball world with their 83-win season, and Urías was an important part of Baltimore’s success. He is another first-time Gold Glove Award winner, and he’s the first Oriole to capture a Gold Glove since Manny Machado also won at third base in 2015. Urías, who joined Machado and Brooks Robinson as the only Orioles third basemen to win the award , led all AL third basemen with 14 DRS in ’22. He was also tied with the Yankees’ Josh Donaldson for the most Outs Above Average at the hot corner in the AL, with 7.
Pitcher: Shane Bieber, Guardians
Bieber is the first pitcher in Cleveland history to win a Gold Glove, pairing excellent defense off the mound with his typical excellence on it. He’s now added the honor to a resume that already included the 2019 All-Star Game MVP Award and the ’20 AL Cy Young Award. With the quartet of Bieber, Giménez, Kwan and Straw, Cleveland set a franchise record with four Gold Glove winners in the same year, breaking its previous mark of three set in 2000 (second baseman Alomar, shortstop Omar Vizquel and third baseman Travis Fryman) .
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