Nolan Arenado’s Impressive Gold Glove Streak Comes to an End

In a surprising turn of events, Nolan Arenado’s streak of consecutive Gold Gloves has come to an end at 10. The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman was not among the three finalists announced on Wednesday. The finalists for the prestigious defensive award are Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes, Colorado’s Ryan McMahon, and Atlanta’s Austin Riley. The winner will be announced on November 5.

The exclusion of Arenado from the list of finalists marks a significant shift in the Gold Glove landscape. Arenado has long been considered one of the finest defensive players in the game, and his absence from the running is sure to raise eyebrows among fans and experts alike. However, this year’s finalists should not be overlooked, as they have each showcased their exceptional defensive skills throughout the season.

Joining Hayes, McMahon, and Riley as the 2023 finalists are several players who were on the winning side last year. Cleveland second baseman Andrés Giménez and left fielder Steven Kwan, Houston right fielder Kyle Tucker, Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto, Arizona first baseman Christian Walker, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, and left fielder Ian Happ, along with Los Angeles right fielder Mookie Betts, are all vying for the award once again. Betts, who has won six consecutive Gold Gloves, is also a finalist in the newly added utility role category.

The voting process for the Gold Glove awards involves the managers and up to six coaches from each team. They cannot select players from their own club. Since 2013, the vote has been combined with the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) defensive index, accounting for about 25% of the total. The utility category, on the other hand, is determined based on a SABR formula and additional defensive statistics.

On the American League side, the finalists are as follows:
– Pitcher: José Berríos (Toronto), Sonny Gray (Minnesota), Pablo López (Minnesota)
– Catcher: Jonah Heim (Texas), Alejandro Kirk (Toronto), Adley Rutschman (Baltimore)
– First base: Nathaniel Lowe (Texas), Ryan Mountcastle (Baltimore), Anthony Rizzo (New York)
– Second base: Mauricio Dubón (Houston), Andrés Giménez (Cleveland), Marcus Semien (Texas)
– Shortstop: Carlos Correa (Minnesota), Corey Seager (Texas), Anthony Volpe (New York)
– Third base: Alex Bregman (Houston), Matt Chapman (Toronto), José Ramírez (Cleveland)
– Left field: Austin Hays (Baltimore), Steven Kwan (Cleveland), Daulton Varsho (Toronto)
– Center field: Kevin Kiermaier (Toronto), Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago), Julio Rodríguez (Seattle)
– Right field: Adolis García (Texas), Kyle Tucker (Houston), Alex Verdugo (Boston)
– Utility: Mauricio Dubón (Houston), Zach McKinstry (Detroit), Taylor Walls (Tampa Bay)

As for the National League, the finalists are:
– Pitcher: Jesús Luzardo (Miami), Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia), Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia)
– Catcher: Patrick Bailey (San Francisco), Gabriel Moreno (Arizona), J.T. Realmuto (Philadelphia)
– First base: Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles), Carlos Santana (Milwaukee), Christian Walker (Arizona)
– Second base: Nico Hoerner (Chicago), Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego), Bryson Stott (Philadelphia)
– Shortstop: Francisco Lindor (New York), Dansby Swanson (Chicago), Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado)
– Third base: Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pittsburgh), Ryan McMahon (Colorado), Austin Riley (Atlanta)
– Left field: Ian Happ (Chicago), David Peralta (Los Angeles), Eddie Rosario (Atlanta)
– Center field: Brenton Doyle (Colorado), Michael Harris II (Atlanta), Alek Thomas (Arizona)
– Right field: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles), Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego), Lane Thomas (Washington)
– Utility: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles), Tommy Edman (St. Louis), Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego)

With the winners set to be announced soon, fans and players alike will be eagerly awaiting the results. The Gold Glove awards serve as a recognition of excellence in defensive play, and this year’s finalists have all demonstrated their exceptional skills on the field. While Arenado’s streak may have come to an end, the battle for the Gold Gloves remains as intense as ever.