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by civ ollilavad
GOLD GLOVE FINALISTS
SECOND BASE
Andrés Giménez, Guardians
Nicky Lopez, White Sox
Marcus Semien, Rangers
Giménez won the AL Gold Glove Award at second base in each of the past two seasons (as well as a Platinum Glove in 2023) and has a strong case to make it three in a row. He tied for the MLB lead with +20 Outs Above Average and led AL second basemen with 20 Defensive Runs Saved. Semien, though, wasn’t far behind Giménez in OAA (+19), and the two actually had identical +14 figures in Statcast’s fielding run value metric. Lopez saw time at both middle-infield spots for the White Sox in 2024 and produced +5 OAA, including +4 as a second baseman.
SHORTSTOP
Brayan Rocchio, Guardians
Anthony Volpe, Yankees
Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Witt struggled on defense during his 2022 rookie season, but his glove work has come a long way over the past two years. The Royals superstar led AL shortstops with +16 Outs Above average in 2024. Volpe, who won the AL Gold Glove Award as a rookie last year, ranked second among AL shortstops behind Witt with +13 OAA in 2024. Rocchio finished his 2024 rookie campaign with +7 OAA and placed fourth at the position with 10 Defensive Runs Saved.
LEFT FIELD
Colton Cowser, Orioles
Steven Kwan, Guardians
Alex Verdugo, Yankees
Kwan, who missed time due to injuries but still posted 9 Defensive Runs Saved, +4 Outs Above Average and nine outfield assists in 2024, is looking to snag his third Gold Glove Award in three big league seasons. Cowser is an AL Rookie of the Year contender in part because of what he did on defense for the Orioles, ranking second among left fielders with +8 OAA. The veteran Verdugo notched 6 DRS and seven outfield assists for the Yankees.
And Guardian'Indians devloped nominees: Ernie Clement at 3rd base and Willi Casto as Utility in the AL
No Cleveland originated defenders among NL nominees, i.e. not Lindor who is likely to finish No. 2 in NL MVP contest