Major League Baseball announced its Gold Glove Award winners on Tuesday and the San Francisco Giants fared well.
The team’s middle infield and captain — shortstop Brandon Crawford, second base Joe Panik and catcher Buster Posey — earned an award for their respective positions.
It was Panik and Posey’s first time receiving the award and Crawford’s second (he won in 2015).
Posey will add this piece of hardware into his already impressive trophy case, which includes an NL MVP, three Silver Sluggers, a Comeback Player of the Year, Golden Spikes Award, batting title, Rookie of the Year and Hank Aaron Award. Or as Crawford called the top fielding honor, “the one award he hadn’t won yet.”
“This one is up there for me personally,” Posey said during a conference call on Tuesday when asked where this honor ranks. “I’m a firm believer that you win ballgames by pitching and defense. … It’s nice to be recognized for it because it is something that I take very seriously.”
Posey played a career high number of games and innings behind the plate and ranked well in most defensive metrics — especially pitch framing and defensive runs saved, too categories he paced Major League Baseball.
He unseats Yadier Molina, who has won the last eight Gold Gloves at catcher in the NL.
Double-play duo honored
Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik are the fourth-ever double-play partnership to win the award in the same year.
It was more surprising for Panik, who missed a significant amount of time while recovering from a concussion, than it was Crawford who led the league in defensive WAR for the whole season.
“We elevate each other, just because when you have somebody like Crawford on the other side of the double play, being able to turn more double plays is easier,” Panik said.
The Giants had the most winners of any team in the MLB.
NL Gold Glove Award winners:
Zack Greinke — Diamondbacks
Buster Posey — Giants
Anthony Rizzo — Cubs
Joe Panik — Giants
Nolan Arenado — Rockies
Brandon Crawford — Giants
Starling Marte — Pirates
Ender Inciarte — Braves
Jason Heyward — Braves
AL Gold Glove Award winners:
Dallas Keuchel — Astros
Salvador Perez — Royals
Mitch Moreland — Rangers
Ian Kinsler — Tigers
Adrian Beltre — Rangers
Francisco Lindor — Indians
Brett Gardner — Yankees
Kevin Kiermaier — Rays
Mookie Betts — Red Sox
