The Orioles have three finalists for the Gold Glove award: catcher Adley Rutschman, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and leftfielder Austin Hays.
Rutschman is joined by Texas’ Jonah Heim, who was drafted by the Orioles in 2013, and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk. The Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe and New York Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo are the other first base nominees. Hays’ competition is Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and Toronto’s Daulton Varsho.
It’s the first time any of the three has been a finalist. Last year, Ramón Urías won at third base. The awards will be announced on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on November 5th at 7:30 p.m.
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Rutschman, who had a .2 Defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) had two Defensive Runs Saved, according to FanGraphs. He threw out 22 percent of runners attempting to steal, one percent higher than the league average. In his first full season, Rutschman committed six errors and did not have a passed ball.
Mountcastle, who had a -.4 Defensive WAR, was credited with two Defensive Runs Saved and committed two errors. He was recognized despite starting just 86 games at first. He had two stints on the injured list, missing about a month before the All-Star break, with vertigo and a left shoulder injury late in the season.
Hays, who had a .2 Defensive WAR, was credited with seven Defensive Runs Saved and didn’t commit an error in 137 games in left.
The awards are calculated by votes from managers and coaches and a sabermetric component, which counts for 25 percent.