Multiple D-backs named finalists for Gold Glove Awards
Oct 24, 2019, 1:01 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker fields a grounder hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Beaty, before running to first base for the out during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Diamondbacks lost a Gold Glove first baseman last offseason by trading Paul Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals, but Christian Walker filled in at the position just fine.
Walker was named a Gold Glove Award finalist at first base in the National League on Thursday, sharing the finalist honor with Goldschmidt and the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo. Additionally, D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed, pitcher Mike Leake, outfielder David Peralta and former pitcher Zack Greinke were named finalists for Gold Glove Awards.
In his first full major league season, Walker played 152 games — 142 at first base — logging nearly 1,179 innings with a .991 fielding percentage and nine defensive runs saved, per Baseball-Reference. He also led NL first basemen in assists with 139. He committed 11 errors on the season, though, which were fourth-most in the NL among first baseman.
Ahmed, named a finalist in the NL with the Cardinals’ Paul DeJong and the Rockies’ Trevor Story, is seeking back-to-back Gold Glove Awards after leading NL shortstops in defensive runs saved with 19. He had a .979 fielding percentage and 13 errors with 79 double plays.
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Peralta was named a finalist in left field despite playing only 93 games because of shoulder injuries. According to MLB.com, his 10 defensive runs saved were the most among NL left fielders. He had a .990 fielding percentage and three assists with only two errors all season. The other finalists are the Nationals’ Juan Soto and the Padres’ Hunter Renfroe.
Leake was named a finalist in the AL for the Mariners, with whom he made 22 starts before coming over to the D-backs and pitching 10 more games. In the AL, he owned a .996 fielding percentage and had 17 assists and only one error on 29 chances. He kept up the good work after coming to the D-backs and finished the year with two defensive runs saved. He’s finalist with Minnesota’s Jose Berrios and the White Sox’s Lucas Giolito.
Greinke was named an NL finalist, along with the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty and the Phillies’ Aaron Nola, despite finishing the season with the AL’s Houston Astros. A win this season would be his sixth consecutive Gold Glove Award.
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