Daulton Varsho, an outfielder for the Blue Jays, is chasing the elusive gold glove award, and he’ll be hoping this is his third try.
Although Varsho, who is 28 years old, is thought to be among the best fielders in Major League Baseball, he has not yet been awarded a gold glove, which is given out every year to the best defender at each position. The previous two seasons, he placed among the top three at the corner outfield positions.
Having replaced Kevin Kiermaier in the centre this year, he is a finalist. Ernie Clement of the Jays is among the top three at third base.
Varsho’s versatility has hurt his candidacy in the past, and it may happen again this year as he has played 404 innings in left and 672 innings in centre. However, Jarren Duran of Boston, his main rival, has a comparable split with 810 innings in centre field and 611 innings in left field.
Varsho should have the advantage because he finished tied with Jose Siri of Tampa Bay for the most outs above average by an outfielder (16) and led the majors in defensive runs saved with 29. Duran was 11 outs above average and had saved 23 defensive runs. Jake Meyers of Houston would emerge as the unexpected winner despite playing 1,144 innings at centre field and finishing with 14 outs above average.
This season, Clement was one of the few Jays who performed better than expected. Despite not having a job secured, he went into spring training and earned a spot on the bench. After starting the season in a part-time capacity, the 28-year-old eventually assumed daily responsibility at third after Isiah Kiner-Falefa was hurt and then traded.
Alex Bregman of Houston is regarded as the favourite at third base after recording 1,234 innings of above-average hitting and six defensive runs saved. Clement, who finished with three outs above average and ten defensive runs saved, spent roughly half of that time at third base. The other finalist is Jose Ramirez of Cleveland.
Votes and the SABR defensive index—which calculates the amount of runs saved in a season relative to an average defender—are combined to determine the gold glove winners. Each team’s manager and six coaches get to cast their votes, but they are not allowed to cast a vote for a player on their own team.
José Berríos, a right-hander who won a gold glove the previous season, is not among the top three at his position this year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 2022 winner at first base, isn’t either. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., a left fielder, Gabriel Moreno, a catcher, and former Jays third baseman Matt Chapman all finished in the top three in the National League at their respective positions.
On November 3, the winners will be declared.