The finalists for the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award were announced Wednesday afternoon, and the winners are scheduled to be revealed on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on Sunday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
There are three finalists in each league for each position, including the utility position, which was awarded for the first time in 2022.
To determine the winners of the standard nine positions, 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own team. These votes make up 75% of the total selection, with the defensive SABR index accounting for the other 25%.
For the utility position, Rawlings teamed up with Sabra to create a specialized defensive formula separate from the traditional selection process.
Here are the 2023 Gold Glove Award finalists:
Rizzo is a four-time Gold Glover and was a finalist last year, though he has yet to win a Yankee pennant. Veteran He led the AL first baseman With +6 points above average in 2023. Lowe has a Silver Slugger Award to his name, and is now trying to add to his first Gold Glove Award, as is Mountcastle of the AL-best Orioles.
Giménez is an AL Gold Glove Award winner at second base, and led second basemen with a +18 OAA this season – Third best for any player In any position. Semien was a winner at second base before that, in 2021, and was a finalist in 2022 but lost to Jimenez. The versatile Dubón is seeking his first career Gold Glove Award in his first full season in Houston.
Chapman is a perennial Gold Glove contender at third base — he’s a three-time winner (and a two-time Platinum Glove winner on top of that), most recently in 2021 with the A’s. Bregman and Ramirez both won Silver Slugger Awards, but neither had a Gold Glove in their trophy case.
Rookie Volpe inherited the starting shortstop job for the Yankees and tied for the AL lead among SS with 16 defensive runs saved. The 22-year-old competes with two veteran stars. Correa is looking for his second Gold Glove Award in three seasons — he won it in 2021 and was a finalist last year but lost to his successor in Houston, Jeremy Peña — while Seager will be a first-time winner.
Cowan won an AL Gold Glove award in left field as a starter in 2022, but now faces stiff competition from Varsho, who was an NL Gold Glove finalist in right field last year for the D-backs. Now in the AL, Varsho is tied for fifth with +11 OAA, ahead of Kwan’s +9 OAA. And don’t rule out Hayes, who was an All-Star for the first time this season and could be a Gold Glover for the first time as well.
Center field in the AL may be the closest race to a Gold Glove. You have one of the best defensive midfielders in Kiermaier (three Gold Gloves) facing off against two of the most dynamic young stars at the position in Robert (one Gold Glove) and J-Rod. They were The three best center fielders in the AL By Outs above average in 2023, with Kiermaier and Robert at +13 and Rodriguez at +12.
Tucker is the holder of a Gold Glover in right field in the AL, but both Verdugo and Garcia have strong cases to win the first Gold Glove award of their careers. Verdugo led AL right-handers with 9 defensive runs saved this season, and Garcia was third with 7 DRS and earned . The most valuable throwing arm of any outfielder in the ALAccording to Statcast.
There will be a Gold Glove catcher for the first time in the AL. Rutschman may already be the best pitcher in baseball, with a balanced defensive game and leading the Orioles pitching staff beyond his years. Heim is great at framing and controlling the run game, with a field run value of +13, according to Statcast, which places him among players Most Valuable Players in MLB in 2023. Kirk led AL players in defensive runs saved with 17.
Berrios, Gray and Lopez were all stars in their careers, but none of them won a Gold Glove Award. Berrios was a 2022 finalist, but Shane Bieber won the award. Gray and Lopez led the Twins to the AL Central title this season by pitching, but both are excellent at pitching at their position as well.
Dubón is the only 2023 AL Gold Glove Award finalist at more than one position, splitting his time between second base and center field and being excellent at both. McKinstry plays all over the field – he has played over 20 games at third base, second base, shortstop, right field, and left field for the Tigers. Walls efficiently handled second base, third base and shortstop for the Rays, who spread him evenly between the three spots. Dubón, McKinstry and Walls are all looking for their first Gold Glove Award.
Walker is looking to make back-to-back Gold Gloves. He led all first basemen with +12 above average generalitywhile Santana topped the position with 11 defensive shots saved. Santana, a 14-year veteran and former catcher, has never won a Gold Glove. Freeman (+3 OAA in 2023) previously won in 2018 as a member of the Braves.
Headlining that position are three players who moved to second base and thrived in 2023 after their teams signed big-name shortstops in free agency — the Cubs with Dansby Swanson, the Padres with Xander Bogaerts, and the Phillies with Trea Turner. Both Stott (+16) and Horner (+15) are rated among the Top 10 in MLB in above average outs, regardless of the situation. Kim finished with a +10 OAA, including +7 as a second baseman.
For the first time since Chase Headley won in 2012, the National League will have a Gold Glove Award winner at third base not named Nolan Arenado. Arenado has won the award in each of the past 10 years, but is not among the finalists in 2023. Hayes (+17 above average generality, 21 defensive shots saved), McMahon (+11 OAA, 17 DRS) and Riley (0 OAA, 9 DRS) are all in contention for the first Gold Glove award of their careers.
Lindor (+6 above average) has two Gold Glove Awards in his career, but hasn’t won either since 2019 with Cleveland. Swanson earned NL honors last year with the Braves, and he clearly brought his glove with him when he signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Cubs in the offseason. The 29-year-old led all major leaguers with a +20 OAA. It didn’t take long for Tovar to establish himself as a top-tier defender for the Rockies, finishing his rookie season with a +16 OAA.
After being a man without a full-time job, Happ found a permanent home in left field last year and wound up winning the first Gold Glove of his career. Hap who He is tied for third place among outfielders With 12 assists and two defensive runs saved as a left fielder, he could make it two straight in 2023. Peralta (7 DRS) is also in contention for his second career Gold Glove, while Rosario (3 DRS) will be a first-time winner.
Doyle burst onto the scene in 2023 and quickly became one of the best defenders in baseball. With great range and an outstanding throwing arm, Doyle led all players in Statcast Field operation value metric (+21). Doyle, Harris (+7 points above average) and Thomas (+5 OAA) will all be first-time Gold Glove Award winners.
Tatis’ move from shortstop to right field after the Padres signed Bogaerts last season proved to be a huge success. The 24-year-old tied for first among right fielders in field run value (+12), ranked second among all outfielders in defensive runs saved (27) and tied for third with 12 assists. Only Colorado’s Nolan Jones (19) and Thomas (18) have more assists on the field. Both Tatis and Thomas are looking for their first Gold Glove, while Betts could win his seventh.
Long considered one of the best defensive outfielders in MLB, Realmuto is seeking his second straight Gold Glove Award and third overall, but faces a major challenge from two young men. Bailey was a junior in 2023, leading all players and finishing second overall with Field operation value +18, including +16 of pitch framing. Moreno excelled at controlling the running game in his first full season, scoring MLB-Best +9 Caught with an above-average steal.
Two pitchers have dominated this spot over the past nine years. Zack Greinke won six straight NL Gold Glove Awards from 2014-19, followed by Max Fried for the past three. But Fried’s plagued 2023 season opened the door for the newcomer to claim the award.
Typically a full-time right fielder, Betts also made the Finals, and he moved around the diamond last season to give the Dodgers a boost. Playing 70 games at second base and 16 at shortstop in addition to 107 games in right field, Betts finished with 10 defensive runs saved overall. Edman, the 2021 NL Gold Glove Award winner at second base, also showed his versatility in 2023. Edman produced +10 runs scored above average. Kim, who was also a second base finalist, played 32 games at third, 20 at shortstop and 106 at second in 2023. He also finished +10 OAA.