MLB Gold Glove finalists announced, Nolan Arenado misses award for 1st time in 11-year career

Jack Baer
10-time Gold Glover winner Nolan Arenado #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws the ball to second base against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Nolan Arenado is one of the best defensive third basemen ever and a perennial Gold Glove winner. But not this year. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) (G Fiume via Getty Images)

MLB announced this year's 60 Gold Glove finalists on Wednesday, and the biggest surprise is who didn't make the cut.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has won the National League Gold Glove at his position every year since his rookie season in 2013, was not among the three finalists for his league and position this year. Arenado was also on a streak of six straight Platinum Gloves for the best overall fielder in the league.

Arenado is tied with Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki for most consecutive Gold Gloves to open a career. His 10 Gold Gloves remain tied with the Philadelphia Phillies' Mike Schmidt for second-most all time at the position, behind only the late Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles.

Instead of Arenado, the 2023 finalists were the Pittsburgh Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley and the Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon, who took over the position in Denver after Arenado was traded to the Cardinals.

It's not too much of a stunner that they beat Arenado, though, as all three players were well ahead of the veteran in the key Defensive Runs Saved stat, a catch-all for defensive performance. Arenado did beat Riley in Statcast's Outs Above Average, though.

As for the other positions, some will be more competitive than others. Here's the entire list of nominees, with each position's leader in Defensive Runs Saved italicized.

American League Gold Glove finalists

Catcher

  • Jonah Heim, TEX

  • Alejandro Kirk, TOR

  • Adley Rutschman, BAL

First base

  • Nathaniel Lowe, TEX

  • Ryan Mountcastle, BAL

  • Anthony Rizzo, NYY

Second base

  • Mauricio Dubón, HOU

  • Andrés Giménez, CLE

  • Marcus Semien, TEX

Shortstop

  • Carlos Correa, MIN

  • Corey Seager, TEX

  • Anthony Volpe, NYY

Third base

  • Alex Bregman, HOU

  • Matt Chapman, TOR

  • José Ramírez, CLE

Left field

  • Austin Hays, BAL

  • Steven Kwan, CLE

  • Daulton Varsho, TOR

Center field

  • Kevin Kiermaier, TOR

  • Luis Robert Jr., CWS

  • Julio Rodríguez, SEA

Right field

  • Adolis García, TEX

  • Kyle Tucker, HOU

  • Alex Verdugo, BOS

Pitcher

  • José Berríos, TOR

  • Sonny Gray, MIN

  • Pablo López, MIN

Utility

  • Mauricio Dubón, HOU

  • Zach McKinstry, DET

  • Taylor Walls, TB

National League Gold Glove finalists

Catcher

  • Patrick Bailey, SF

  • Gabriel Moreno, ARI

  • J.T. Realmuto, PHI

First base

  • Freddie Freeman, LAD

  • Carlos Santana, PIT and MIL

  • Christian Walker, ARI

Second base

  • Nico Hoerner, CHC

  • Ha-Seong Kim, SD

  • Bryson Stott, PHI

Shortstop

  • Francisco Lindor, NYM

  • Dansby Swanson, CHC

  • Ezequiel Tovar, COL

Third base

  • Ke'Bryan Hayes, PIT

  • Ryan McMahon, COL

  • Austin Riley, ATL

Left field

  • Ian Happ, CHC

  • David Peralta, LAD

  • Eddie Rosario, ATL

Center field

  • Brenton Doyle, COL

  • Michael Harris II, ATL

  • Alek Thomas, ARI

Right field

  • Mookie Betts, LAD

  • Fernando Tatis Jr., SD

  • Lane Thomas, WAS

Pitcher

  • Jesús Luzardo, MIA

  • Taijuan Walker, PHI

  • Zack Wheeler, PHI

Utility

  • Mookie Betts, LAD

  • Tommy Edman, STL

  • Ha-Seong Kim, SD

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