D-backs 1B Christian Walker wins 2022 Gold Glove
Nov 1, 2022, 2:45 PM | Updated: Nov 2, 2022, 12:01 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) throws out San Diego Padres' Juan Soto during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Diamondbacks veteran Christian Walker was named the first base Gold Glove Award winner for 2022 by Rawlings on Tuesday.
He took home the award over former D-back first baseman Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals and Matt Olson from the Atlanta Braves, who were the two other finalists for the award.
Walker is the first D-back to win a Gold Glove since shortstop Nick Ahmed and pitcher Zack Greinke won at their respective positions in 2019. At first base, Goldschmidt was the last Arizona player to win the honor in 2017.
Walker stood out from an analytics perspective in 2022.
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He finished tied for eighth in Major League Baseball with 17 defensive runs saved (DRS) but had a runaway lead when considering only first basemen.
The Chicago Cubs’ Alfonso Rivas was in second place in DRS among first basemen, according to FanGraphs, at just six.
Over 1,292 frames of action, Walker committed five errors and posted a .996 fielding percentage.
D-backs center fielder Alek Thomas and Daulton Varsho — as a right fielder and utility man — joined Walker as finalists for the Gold Glove Awards.
