New York Mets Star Named Gold Glove Finalist Again

The New York Mets have one finalist for a 2023 National League Gold Glove, and it’s probably the player most Mets fans and observers would expect.

Francisco Lindor, who claimed Gold Gloves in 2016 and 2019, and also has a Platinum Glove, is one of the three NL finalists at shortstop.

Lindor is coming off a season in which he had a .981 fielding percentage, with 396 assists and just 11 errors. He also helped turn 98 double plays.

The other finalists at the position are the Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson, who won the Gold Glove at shortstop last year, and Ezequiel Tovar of the Colorado Rockies. Of the three, Tovar had the highest fielding percentage this season at .988.

Lindor had a great overall season for the Mets, despite the team finishing well below expectations and trading away pitchers Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and David Robertson at the deadline, among other veteran players.

But Lindor ended up with a 30/30 season (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases) and was in the 90th percentile of Outs Above Average. The only other shortstop to do that since 2016 is Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr., who also did it this season, per Metsmerized.com.

Since Outs Above Average has been tracked (since 2016), only two shortstops have posted a season where they were in the 90th percentile in OAA, hit 30+ home runs & stole 30+ bases:

The winner will be announced in November.

Rawlings Gold Glove Finalists

American League

Pitcher: Jose Berrios, Toronto; Pablo Lopez, Minnesota; Sonny Gray, Minnesota. Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Baltimore; Jonah Heim, Texas; Alejandro Kirk, Toronto. First Base: Anthony Rizzo, NY Yankees; Nathaniel Lowe, Texas; Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore. Second Base: Mauricio Dubon, Houston; Marcus Semien, Texas; Andrew Gimenez, Cleveland. Third Base: Matt Chapman, Toronto; Jose Ramirez, Cleveland; Alex Bregman, Houston. Shortstop: Anthony Volpe, NY Yankees; Corey Seager, Texas; Carlos Correa, Minnesota. Left Field: Austin Hays, Baltimore; Daulton Varsho, Toronto; Steven Kwan, Cleveland. Center Field: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle; Kevin Kiermaier, Toronto; Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox. Right Field: Kyle Tucker, Houston; Adolis Garcia, Texas; Alex Verdugo, Boston. Utility: Mauricio Dubon, Houston; Zach McKinstry, Detroit; Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay.

National League

Pitcher: Jesus Luzardo, Miami; Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia; Taijuan Walker, Philadelphia. Catcher: Patrick Bailey, San Francisco; Gabriel Moreno, Arizona; J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia. First Base: Carlos Santana, Milwaukee; Freddie Freeman, LA Dodgers; Christian Walker, Arizona. Second Base: Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego; Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs; Bryson Stott, Philadelphia. Third Base: Austin Riley, Atlanta; Ryan McMahon, Colorado; Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh. Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, NY Mets; Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs; Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado. Left Field: Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs; David Peralta, LA Dodgers; Eddie Rosario, Atlanta. Center Field: Brenton Doyle, Colorado; Michael Harris II, Atlanta; Alek Thomas, Arizona. Right Field: Mookie Betts, LA Dodgers; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego; Lane Thomas, Washington. Utility: Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego; Tommy Edman, St. Louis; Mookie Betts, LA Dodgers.