Diamondbacks get 5 Gold Glove finalists, including 2023 winners Gabriel Moreno, Christian Walker

The Arizona Diamondbacks had five players named by Rawlings as Gold Glove finalists on Tuesday, including 2023 winners catcher Gabriel Moreno and first baseman Christian Walker.

Second baseman Ketel Marte and right fielder Jake McCarthy were named first-time finalists while left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. picked up his first since 2020 as a Toronto Blue Jay.

Arizona’s five selections were the most of any team in the majors, and winners will be announced Nov. 3.

After leading the league in 2023 with a 39% caught stealing rate, Moreno’s number dropped to 29% this season as he battled injuries, still 8% above average.

His defensive impact was magnified as Arizona had to turn to José Herrera, Tucker Barnhart and Adrian Del Castillo, all of whom teams were much more willing to run on. Moreno allowed 40 stolen bases in 97 games, while the other three allowed a combined 69 in 98 games.

The other two nominees at catcher also came from inside the NL West, Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants.

Walker, a free agent entering the offseason, was far and away the leader in outs above average among NL first basemen for the third straight season. His 13 this year outpaced next closest Bryce Harper (eight) of the Philadelphia Phillies and Matt Olson (four) of the Atlanta Braves, both of whom were also named finalists.

A win in 2024 would give the first baseman a three-year streak.

Marte was fourth among NL second basemen in outs above average, and he led the position in range factor, a measure of putouts plus assists, per game.

Bryson Stott of the Phillies and Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers were also named finalists.

McCarthy was named a finalist in right field despite starting and completing more games in center field, as well as having 30 fewer complete games there than teammate Corbin Carroll.

The Brewers’ Sal Frelick and Giants’ Mike Yastremski were named finalists as well.

Gurriel led NL left fielders in outs above average (three), as former Diamondback outfielder Daulton Varsho led the majors for the Blue Jays (10). His 89% success rate also led NL left fielders. Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs and the Phillies’ Brandon Marsh joined him as finalists in left.

2024 Gold Glove finalists across MLB

The 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists 🏆

Winners will be announced on November 3rd! pic.twitter.com/1cafGbBTeG

— Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) October 15, 2024

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