Molina, Arenado headline 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® winners
By Tab Bamford
On Sunday evening the 2018 winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® were announced. Two trophies are headed to Venezuela and there were a few surprises among this year’s winners.
In his sixth season in the majors, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado won for the sixth time at third base in the National League. Arenado, whose a father who was born in Cuba and mother’s family is Puerto Rican, has established himself as the best defensive third baseman of this generation. He led the Rockies to the National League Division Series for the first time in his career this season.
Behind the plate in the National League, Yadier Molina, who won the Roberto Clemente Award this year, wins his ninth Rawlings Gold Glove Award®. In the American League, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez won for the fifth time in his career. The two backstops are chasing Iván Rodríguez’s record of 13 behind the plate.
Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons from Curaçao won for the fourth time. Simmons, 29, posted a 3.1 dWAR this season while improving at the plate as well. He established new career highs in runs batted in (75), batting average (.292), OBP (.337) and OPS (.754). Simmons won twice in the National League with Atlanta and has now won twice with the Angels in the American League.
Ender Inciarte of the Atlanta Braves won his third Rawlings Gold Glove Award® in centerfield. The 28-year-old Venezuelan has now won three consecutive years and registered a strong 2.1 dWAR this year for the National League East division champions in Atlanta.
Click here to see all of the 2018 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® winners.
The Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards™ are open for public voting. Click here to cast your vote before Nov. 7.
Featured Image: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images Sport