Three Guardians In Line For Consecutive Gold Glove Awards
In 2022, the Cleveland Guardians had four Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners: Andrés Giménez, Steven Kwan, Myles Straw, and Shane Bieber. Three of these players lived up to their strong defensive billing once again in 2023.
Here are Cleveland’s three candidates to win back-to-back Gold Gloves:
Andrés Giménez
Fresh off of an All-Star and Gold Glove season in 2022, Giménez signed a long-term contract extension just before Opening Day.
Defensively, this investment did not disappoint in 2023. According to FanGraphs, the second baseman led all MLB players in assists (401), and all AL players in total defensive runs saved (23).
The 25-year-old also ranked second among MLB second basemen in putouts (259), and second among AL second basemen in innings played (1,308.0).
Apr 5, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Myles Straw (7) celebrates with second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) and left fielder Steven Kwan (38) after Straw and Gimenez were batted in on an RBI double against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at Oakland Coliseum.
© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Kwan
After winning a Gold Glove his rookie year a season ago, the second-year left fielder had another stellar defensive campaign.
According to FanGraphs, Kwan led MLB left fielders in total defensive runs saved (15), putouts (344) and innings played (1,352.0), while leading AL left fielders in assists (10) and games played (153).
He also tied for second among MLB left fielders in double plays started (2).
Myles Straw
Also looking to defend his 2022 AL Gold Glove, the soon-to-be 29-year-old was a defensive staple in Cleveland’s outfield.
According to FanGraphs, Straw was the only qualified MLB center fielder, and one of just five qualified MLB players, to have a perfect fielding percentage. He also ranked second among AL center fielders in assists (6).
Last year’s Gold Glove winners were announced on November 1st, 2022. In this case, Giménez, Kwan, and Straw will find out if they will take home back-to-back Gold Gloves at some point soon.
