The Rockies struck rookie gold in 2023.
Confirmation arrived Wednesday when rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle and rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar were named finalists for the Rawlings National League Gold Glove Award.
Also, veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon was named a finalist for the third consecutive season.
During the last third of the season, Colorado manager Bud Black frequently lobbied for all three players to win a Gold Glove, but Black was particularly adamant that Doyle deserved the honor.
“When I watch him run balls down, it tells me he’s got range,” Black said late in the season. “When he dives and makes a great play it tells me he’s got athleticism and aggressiveness as a defender. He’s making his mark as a major league defender. On that side of the ball, he’s doing awesome, he’s doing remarkable.”
Doyle’s competitors are Atlanta’s Michael Harris II and Arizona’s Alek Thomas. Doyle led all outfielders in Statcast’s fielding run value metric (plus-21 outs above average). Doyle, Harris and Thomas are all seeking their first Gold Glove.
Tovar flashed excellent range, a strong arm and a steady glove. Tovar’s 12 defensive runs saved were the fifth-most among big-league shortstops and ranked third in the NL. His .988 fielding percentage was the best by a rookie shortstop in major league history, surpassing Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki’s .987 in 2007.
Tovar faces stiff competition from the Mets’ Francisco Lindor and the Cubs’ Dansby Swanson. Lindor has won two Gold Gloves, but he hasn’t won one since 2019 with Cleveland. Swanson won last year with the Braves and was even better this season with Chicago, posting a plus-22 outs above average.
McMahon has a chance to win for the first time, but the favorite for the Gold Glove at third is Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes, who posted a plus-17 OAA and 21 defensive runs saved. McMahon recorded a plus-11 and 17 defensive runs saved. The third candidate is Atlanta’s Austin Riley, but he’s clearly a long shot.
Missing from the third base mix is the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado. For a decade, the former Rockie was considered perhaps the best overall defensive player in baseball and he won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves at third base to begin his career. This year, however, a poor first half hurt Arenado’s chances and his streak came to an end.
Winners are scheduled to be announced on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
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