Nolan Arenado’s Streak of Consecutive Gold Gloves Comes to an End

After an impressive 10-season run, Nolan Arenado’s streak of consecutive Gold Glove awards has come to an end. The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman was not listed among the three finalists announced on Wednesday. The finalists for the Gold Glove award in the National League include Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, and Austin Riley from the Atlanta Braves. The winner of the award will be announced on November 5th.

Arenado’s 10-year streak matched the record set by Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from 2001 to 2010. It’s a remarkable achievement, showcasing Arenado’s exceptional defensive skills and consistency on the field. However, this year, the competition is stiff, with Hayes, McMahon, and Riley all making strong cases for the prestigious award.

It’s worth noting that several players who won Gold Gloves last year are among the 2023 finalists as well. Cleveland second baseman Andrés Giménez, 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. Betts, who has won six consecutive Gold Gloves, is also a finalist in the newly added utility role category.

The selection process for the Gold Glove awards involves voting among managers and up to six coaches from each team. However, they cannot select players from their own clubs. Since 2013, the voting system has been combined with the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) defensive index, which accounts for approximately 25% of the total vote. The utility category, introduced last year, is determined based on a SABR formula and additional defensive statistics.

Moving on to the finalists for the American League, we see pitchers José Berríos from the Toronto Blue Jays, Sonny Gray and Pablo López from the Minnesota Twins as contenders for the award. Catchers Jonah Heim from the Texas Rangers, Alejandro Kirk from the Toronto Blue Jays, and Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles are also in the running.

In the National League, pitchers Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, Taijuan Walker and Zack Wheeler from the Philadelphia Phillies are among the finalists. Catchers Patrick Bailey from the San Francisco Giants, Gabriel Moreno from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and J.T. Realmuto from the Philadelphia Phillies are also in contention.

The Gold Glove awards not only recognize exceptional defensive skills but also honor the hard work and dedication put in by these outstanding players. The winners will be announced on November 5th, and it will undoubtedly be an exciting moment for both the players and fans alike.