Andres Gimenez leads 5 Latino Gold Glove winners
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Lorenzo Delgado, Contributor
- November 4, 2024
Andres Gimenez makes it three in a row
With Andres Gimenez, Wilyer Abreu, Seth Lugo and Carlos Santana, the American League had four of the five Latinos to win Rawlings Gold Gloves. Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar headlined 14 first-time Gold Glove winners, tying for the most first-time winners since 2022.
There were old faces and new faces among this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove finalists. Major League Baseball announced the American League and National League Gold Glove winners Sunday night.
This is the fewest group of Latinos to win the prestigious award since 2021 (Yuli Gurriel, Carlos Correa, and Nolan Arenado). Let’s dive deep into their numbers and celebrate the Arepa Power, Platano Power and Boricua Power!
Ezequiel Tovar
Tovar was selected as a Gold Glove finalist as a rookie last season, losing to Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old Venezuelan struck gold this season and halted Swanson from winning the award for the third consecutive year.
Tovar became the youngest Gold Glove shortstop in NL history and the second youngest Rockies player to win the award, only behind Arenado in 2013. Outfielder Brenton Doyle won his second consecutive Gold Glove award.
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They’re the first infielder/outfielder pair of Rockies to take home a Gold Glove in the same season since Arenado and Carlos González in 2013.
In 2024, Tovar finished second among shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage while ranking first in total chances (676) and double plays (113). Moreover, he led all position players in assists (435). Since his first full season in 2023, his .988 fielding percentage ranks second among shortstops while his 1,254 total chances, 827 assists and 208 double plays lead the league.
Lastly, Tovar ranks second among all shortstops in outs above average (30) and defensive runs saved (22).
Andres Gimenez
Gimenez takes home his third consecutive Gold Glove award. Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan received the honor in left field.
Andres Gimenez, 26, continued to make miraculous plays at second base this year. Just recall the 360, off-balance jump throw to first base in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees.
“Andrés Giménez is the best infielder on the planet,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said after Game 3 of the ALCS. “He has been, and he will be. He makes plays that make us wow every single day it seems like.
“But what Andrés does night in and night out is so much fun to watch. We are spoiled to watch him play second base every day.”
The native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela led AL position players in defensive runs saved (20) and tied for second in MLB behind Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (22).
Wilyer Abreu
Abreu capped a remarkable rookie campaign this season by winning his first Gold Glove. The 25-year-old Venezuelan became the first Red Sox rookie outfielder to win the award since Fred Lynn in 1975.
In addition, Abreu is the seventh rookie outfielder to win a Gold Glove, joining Tommy Agee (1966), Lynn, Ichiro Suzuki (2001), Luis Robert (2020), Steven Kwan (2022) and Brenton Doyle (2023).
From the iconic 40-foot high Green Monster in left to the unique 302-foot Pesky’s Pole in right, Fenway Park is one of baseball’s historic ballparks. Playing right field in America’s Most Beloved Ballpark is a tough task.
Abreu joins Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Dwight Evans and Jackie Jensen to win a Gold Glove at right field in franchise history.
Abreu led the AL with seven outs above average. He was tied for first in MLB with Brewers outfielders Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick. Moreover, Abreu led the league in defensive runs saved (17). He also tied the Royals’ Hunter Renfroe and Yankees’ Juan Soto with nine assists.
Carlos Santana
Santana was the oldest Gold Glove finalists in both leagues. He just proved age is just a number. Santana, 38, won his first Gold Glove in his 15-year career.
The native of Santo Domingo becomes the third first baseman in Twins history to earn the award, joining Vic Power (1962 and 1963) and Doug Mientkiewicz (2001). Moreover, he’s the first Twins player to win the award since outfielder Byron Buxton and second baseman Brian Dozier in 2017.
Santana led all major league first basemen in fielding run value (11), outs above average (14). He was also tied for second in defensive runs saved (8), and tied for fifth in wins above average with the Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker (3.0). He led all AL first basemen in games (150) and innings played (1,250). Santana was tied for first in errors committed (4).
2024 Gold Glove winners
Royals pitcher Seth Lugo, the grand son of a Puerto Rican, won the AL Gold Glove for pitchers.
The Guardians (Kwan and Gimenez), Rockies (Doyle and Tovar), Royals (shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and pitcher Lugo), Brewers (Turang and Frelick), Giants (catcher Patrick Bailey and third baseman Matt Chapman), and Seattle Mariners (catcher Cal Raleigh and utility man Dylan Moore) each had two Gold Glove winners.
The Astros’ Alex Bregman and Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho earned their first Gold Gloves in the AL. Arizona Diamondback Christian Walker won his third Gold Glove, tying first baseman Paul Goldschmidt for the most in franchise history. Cub Ian Happ, Pirate Jared Triolo, and Brave Chris Sale each won their first Gold Glove in the NL.
Lorenzo Delgado
Contributor
Lorenzo Delgado graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and is currently attending the University of Houston to earn his master’s degree. Lorenzo was formerly a contributing baseball writer for Call to the Pen on the Fansided Network. He is the host of an Astros baseball podcast called Full Seam Ahead, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever podcasts are found.
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