Venezuelan Andrés Giménez, Dominican Carlos Santana and Puerto Rican Seth Lugo lead the group of five Latin players who won the Gold Glove award for the 2024 Major League season.
The winners of the award that recognizes the best defensive player position by position in the American and National League were announced by the MLB.
To determine the winners in the nine traditional positions, the 30 leaders of the Major League teams and up to six coaches from each club cast their votes, which constitutes 75% of the total election, while the SABR Defensive Index remaining account 25%, as detailed by MLB. As for the utility position, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to create a specialized formula to determine the best defensive performer.
Giménez, second base
Andrés Giménez earned his third consecutive distinction (2022, 2023 and 2024) as the best defensive second baseman in the American League.
The defensive work of the American League Platinum Glove winner in the 2023 campaign was essential for the prevention of runs by the Cleveland Guardians pitchers, who relied on that strength to advance to the postseason.
Santana, first base
At 38 years old, Carlos Santana demonstrated the versatility he still has when playing baseball, being a pillar in both defense and offense for the Minnesota Twins.
Santana, who began his career as a catcher, won his first Gold Glove as a first baseman in the American League, in a career of 15 seasons in the Major Leagues.
Lugo, pitcher
Seth Lugo left his mark in the successful season that returned the Kansas City Royals to the playoffs, in which he also won votes for the American League Cy Young Award, and his defensive work has been recognized with his first award. of this type in his career.
In addition to the dominance he showed from the mound, the veteran Puerto Rican pitcher contributed to his own cause with his defensive work, avoiding with his executions putting himself at a disadvantage against his rivals.
Wilyer Abreu, right field
Venezuelan Wilyer Abreu had his first starting opportunity with the Boston Red Sox and did not disappoint, contributing on both sides of the game, achieving the Gold Glove in the right field of the minor circuit.
Abreu was the leader in runs saved (18) among all players at his position in the MLB.
Ezequiel Tovar, shortstop
The young Venezuelan Ezequiel Tovar is the leadership bet in the present and future of the Colorado Rockies and in just his second full season at the Major League level he showed his skills with the glove to be recognized as the best defensive shortstop in the old circuit.
With this recognition, Tovar completed his journey towards the Gold Glove, after being a finalist last season.
Other winners:
American League
- Catcher: Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
- Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
- Third base: Alex Bregman (Houston Astros)
- Left field: Steven Kwan (Cleveland Guardians)
- Center field: Daulton Varsho (Toronto Blue Jays)
- Utility: Dylan Moore (Marineros de Seattle)
National League
- Left field: Ian Happ (Chicago Cubs)
- Pitcher: Chris Sale (Atlanta Braves)
- Third base: Matt Chapman (San Francisco Giants)
- Second baseman: Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers)
- Primera base: Christian Walker (Diamondbacks de Arizona)
- Catcher: Patrick Bailey (San Francisco Giants)
- Center field: Brenton Doyle (Colorado Rockies)
- Right field: Sal Frelick (Milwaukee Brewers)
- Utility: Jared Triolo (Pittsburgh Pirates).
New York / EFE
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**Interview with MLB Analyst Maria Torres on the 2024 Gold Glove Award Winners**
**Host:** Welcome to today’s segment! We’re thrilled to have MLB analyst Maria Torres with us to discuss this year’s Gold Glove Award winners. Maria, thank you for joining us!
**Maria:** Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to break down the defensive brilliance showcased in the MLB.
**Host:** Absolutely! Let’s start with the standout players. We saw a strong representation from Latin players this year, with Andrés Giménez, Carlos Santana, and Seth Lugo taking home the honors. What can you tell us about their contributions?
**Maria:** Each of these players brought exceptional defensive skills to the table. Andrés Giménez, for instance, earned his third consecutive Gold Glove as the best defensive second baseman in the American League. His contributions were vital for the Cleveland Guardians, particularly in preventing runs and aiding their pitching staff throughout the season.
**Host:** That’s impressive! And what about Carlos Santana? Winning a Gold Glove after such a long career must be a nice capstone.
**Maria:** Definitely! At 38, Santana showcased his versatility with the Minnesota Twins. Transitioning from catching to first base and excelling defensively shows not just skill but also adaptability. This was his first Gold Glove as a first baseman after a remarkable 15-season career, which is an incredible accomplishment.
**Host:** Very true. Now, Seth Lugo seems to have had a standout year as well, both on the mound and defensively. What should fans know about him?
**Maria:** Seth Lugo had a fantastic season with the Kansas City Royals, making a significant impact that was recognized with his first Gold Glove. His defensive plays prevented numerous scoring opportunities against him, complementing his pitching excellence. It’s a testament to his all-around game and commitment to helping his team succeed.
**Host:** Lastly, can you touch on the voting process for these awards? It’s interesting how the results are determined.
**Maria:** It’s quite a unique process! The Gold Gloves are voted on by the 30 major league teams’ managers and coaches, which accounts for 75% of the total vote. The remaining 25% comes from the SABR Defensive Index, which utilizes advanced metrics to evaluate defensive performance. For the utility position, Rawlings worked with SABR to create a tailored metric, ensuring that the best defensive player is recognized.
**Host:** Thanks for clarifying that, Maria! It really adds depth to understanding how these players are evaluated. Any final thoughts on the significance of these awards for the players?
**Maria:** Winning a Gold Glove is a huge honor for any player because it highlights their defensive excellence in a sport where it can often be overshadowed by offensive stats. For Latin players like Giménez, Santana, and Lugo, it also showcases the incredible talent and skill emerging from these regions, which brings more visibility to their contributions in MLB.
**Host:** Well said, Maria! Thank you for your insights today. Looking forward to more great discussions with you as the season progresses!
**Maria:** Thank you! I’m excited to see how the rest of the season unfolds!
