Perhaps you hadn’t picked up on it, but the Cleveland Guardians won four of the 10 Gold Glove awards given in the American League this year.
That’s 40 percent!
It’s actually part of what the Guardians are showing on the field: a team that may not hit a lot of home runs, but will do almost everything else right.
The club has excellent pitching, contact hitting, the ability to get on base, and impeccable defense.
Steven Kwan (left field), Myles Straw (center field), Andres Gimenez (second base), and Shane Bieber (pitcher) took home Gold Glove awards this season, and the team couldn’t feel more proud about it.
“Golden Teammates Myles Straw and Andrés Giménez!,” Rawlings Baseball tweeted.
Golden Teammates Myles Straw and Andrés Giménez! #RawlingsGoldGloveAwards pic.twitter.com/YXBffWq8Mv
— Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) November 11, 2022
Elite Fielders All Around
Those are the smiling faces of a center fielder who finished with 17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) this year, and a second baseman who had 16 DRS.
Straw was impressive covering ground in center field: his speeds, along with some excellent reads and routes, allowed him to shine.
There was no competition: he was the best defensive center fielder in the American League.
Gimenez has always had the look of a future Gold Glover: his footwork, athleticism, and soft hands allow him to get to balls that no other second baseman can field.
Besides his impressive DRS mark, he also had 12 Outs Above Average (OAA).
Two players are missing in that picture, though, as it would have been really nice to capture all four Guardians winners.
Kwan was actually magnificent out there in left field, and Bieber’s athleticism allowed him to shine as a fielder, too.
It’s no wonder why the Guardians are so hard to score against: having four Gold Glovers certainly helps.
