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LOS ANGELES — A pair of Dodgers were named finalists for National League Gold Glove Awards on Thursday, with Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager voted as the top three in fielding at right field and shortstop, respectively.
The winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards will be revealed on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN.
The Gold Glove Awards have been around since 1956, and are voted on by managers and coaches in each league, with the caveat that you can’t vote for players on your own team. The awards are determined by a combination of votes from the managers and coaches, and a SABR defensive index:
The SDI combines measures from five (5) different defensive data sources and includes factors that rate the defenders arm strength and accuracy, range and his sure-handedness, along with the number of “excellent” and “poor” fielding plays he makes. The SDI also incorporates a rating for a player's ability to turn double plays (2B and SS), fielding bunts (primarily P, C, 3B, and 1B) and scoops of throws in the dirt (1B). For catchers, blocking balls in the dirt and stolen bases/caught stealing are also included. For pitchers, the SDI includes his ability to hold runners on base and control the running game.
Puig is a finalist along with Jason Heyward of the Cubs and Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins. Heyward has won a Gold Glove Award in the last three seasons and four of the last five.
Puig led National League right fielders in ultimate zone rating (+12.1 runs), tied for the lead (with Heyward) in defensive runs saved (+18), and was third in total zone rating (+11). Using Statcast data, Puig was rated to have secured one out below average in 2017.
An illustration of how good a right fielder Puig has been came in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the World Series, on a play he didn’t make, just missing a ground rule double by Alex Bregman.
“I wasn’t able to make the catch on that play. For a while I felt it was my fault and that’s why we were losing, but that’s how the game is,” Puig said. “I feel like every ball that goes to right field is a ball that I should catch.”
Seager is a finalist at shortstop along with Brandon Crawford of the Giants and Freddy Galvis of the Phillies. Crawford won the Gold Glove in 2015 and 2016.
Seager is second among NL shortstops in UZR (+6.7), tied for second in total zone rating (+9), and fourth in defensive runs saved (+10).
The last Dodgers shortstop to win a Gold Glove was Cesar Izturis in 2004. The last outfielders were Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in 2011. The last Dodgers player to win a Gold Glove at any position was pitcher Zack Greinke in 2015.