Julio Rodriguez has been knocking on the door for a while now, while Cal Raleigh won't repeat as an award winner.
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez was named a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award on Wednesday morning. If he's able to win the award, it will be his first.
The other finalists in centerfield include Kyle Isbel of the Kansas City Royals and Ceddanne Rafaela of the Boston Red Sox.
The Rodriguez file
J-Rod played 159 games in center field this season, leading all center fielders in putouts at 431. He also tied for the American League lead in double plays with two. In more than 1,400 innings at the position, he had just four errors and a .991 fielding percentage. He also led American League players in games played at the position.
The competition
Isbel played 135 games in center field and secured a .997 fielding percentage, tops in the American League. He also had two double plays and made just one error.
Rafaela is known as an excellent defender, but he could be limited by his versatility. In addition to 141 games in center field, he played 24 games at second base. He led American League center fielders in errors with five, but also led with eight assists.
Cal Raleigh
One year after winning the Gold Glove and Platinum Gloves in the AL, Raleigh is not a finalist for the position at all. Dillon Dingler (Tigers), Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) and Carlos Narvaez (Red Sox) are the finalists.
It's somewhat shocking to not see Raleigh on the list, considering he played 121 games at the position and posted a .996 fielding percentage. He also was one of only two qualified players (Dingler) to not have a passed ball.
Recent Mariners Gold Glove winners
2024: Cal Raleigh (C) and Dylan Moore (UTIL)
2020: J.P. Crawford (SS) and Evan White (1B)
Up next
The Mariners will take the field in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 5:08 p.m. PT as George Kirby pitches against Shane Bieber. The Mariners have a 2-0 lead and are two wins away from their first World Series appearance in history.
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