2017 Gold Glove Award finalists announced - MLB

Major League Baseball has announced the finalists for each position in each league for the 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. Here they are:

Pitchers

AL: Chris Sale (Red Sox), Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays), Alex Cobb (Rays)
NL: R.A. Dickey (Braves), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks), Zach Davies (Brewers)

Catchers

AL: Yan Gomes (Indians), Martin Maldonado (Angels), Salvador Perez (Royals)
NL: Buster Posey (Giants), Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Tucker Barnhart (Reds)

First basemen

AL: Carlos Santana (Indians), Eric Hosmer (Royals), Mitch Moreland (Red Sox)
NL: Joey Votto (Reds), Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks), Anthony Rizzo (Cubs)

Second basemen

AL: Brian Dozier (Twins), Ian Kinsler (Tigers), Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
NL: D.J. LeMahieu (Rockies), Dee Gordon (Marlins), Ben Zobrist (Cubs)

Third basemen

AL: Manny Machado (Orioles), Jose Ramirez (Indians), Evan Longoria (Rays)
NL: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), Anthony Rendon (Nationals), David Freese (Pirates)

Shortstops

AL: Elvis Andrus (Rangers), Andrelton Simmons (Angels), Francisco Lindor (Indians)
NL: Freddy Galvis (Phillies), Brandon Crawford (Giants), Corey Seager (Dodgers)

Left fielders

AL: Brett Gardner (Yankees), Alex Gordon (Royals), Justin Upton (Angels)
NL: Gerardo Parra (Rockies), Adam Duvall (Reds), Marcell Ozuna (Marlins)

Center fielders

AL: Lorenzo Cain (Royals), Kevin Pillar (Blue Jays), Byron Buxton (Twins)
NL: Billy Hamilton (Reds), Michael A. Taylor (Nationals), Ender Inciarte (Braves)

Right fielders

AL: Kole Calhoun (Angels), Mookie Betts (Red Sox), Aaron Judge (Yankees)
NL: Yasiel Puig (Dodgers), Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins), Jason Heyward (Cubs)

The first thing that stands out to me is Zobrist as a finalist for second base. He played there more than any other position, sure, but he only logged 541 2/3 defensive innings there total this season. Comparatively, Gordon logged 1,293 1/3 innings and LeMahieu 1,302. Of course, this reminds me of when Rafael Palmeiro won a Gold Glove at first base in 1999 when he played 128 games as a DH and only 28 games (246 1/3 innings) as a first baseman.

If you’re wondering why Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier wasn’t listed, it’s because he wasn’t eligible, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay times points out. Kiermaier played in 98 games and accrued 829 2/3 defensive innings. To be eligible, an outfielder must have played for at least 698 innings through his team’s 138th game. Kiermaier missed time between June 9 and August 17, his team’s 63-123 games.

It was surprising to see Jose Iglesias omitted from shortstops on the American League side. I don’t think he would’ve won over Simmons, but he’s more deserving of a top-three mention than Andrus in my opinion.

As a Phillies fan, I was happy to see Galvis get a nod, though Baseball Reference’s defensive metrics weren’t kind to him. It’s been a treat to watch him 162 games a year. He most likely opens next season up in a different uniform. Some day, though, he’ll win a Gold Glove, even if it’s not this year.

Galvis is absurd. pic.twitter.com/41ivnWwji3

— chris jones ¯_🎃_/¯ (@LONG_DRIVE) July 7, 2017

Gold Glove winners will be announced on ESPN on November 7. The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award will be presented on November 10.

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TAMPA, Fla. — Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Now, the 21-year-old is getting the chance to be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop against the San Francisco Giants.

The team announced after a 6-2 win over Toronto in spring training that Volpe had won the spot. New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to deliver the news.

“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, rated one of baseball’s best prospects. “Incredible. I’m just so excited. It’s hard for me to even put into words.”

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.

Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it is something he will never forget.

“It was pretty emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an unbelievable moment to share with them.”

Volpe, who grew up a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.

“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only ever been to games at Yankee Stadium and for the most part only watched him play there.”

Volpe is hitting .314 with three homers, five RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has just 22 games of experience at Triple-A.

Spring training started with Volpe, Oswald Peraza and holdover Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the everyday shortstop job. Kiner-Falefa was shifted into a utility role midway through camp, and Peraza was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“While certainly the performance was there, he killed it between the lines,” Boone said of Volpe. “All the other things that we’ve been hearing about showed up. There’s an energy he plays the game with, and an instinct that he has that is evident. He really checked every box that we could have had for him. Absolutely kicked the door in and earned his opportunity.”

Volpe arrived in Florida in December to work out at the Yankees’ minor league complex.

“He’s earned the right to take that spot, and we’re excited for him and excited for us,” Cashman said. “He just dominated all sides of the ball during February and March, and that bodes well obviously for him as we move forward.”

Volpe was selected out of high school with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft from Delbarton School in New Jersey. He passed up a college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get into the organization,” Volpe said. “This day, this feeling, this moment was kind of what I’ve worked my whole life for when I made that big decision.”

“Right now it’s crazy,” he added. “I don’t even know what lies ahead but Thursday I just want to go out and play, and have fun.”