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One major exclusion is present in MLB’s 2023 Gold Glove finalist list

Major League Baseball and Rawlings have unveiled the finalists for the 2023 Gold Glove awards, which represent the pinnacle of defensive excellence in the league. In each league, three finalists have been named for each position. The winners of the Gold Glove awards will be officially announced during an ESPN broadcast on Sunday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This year, for the first time in his Major League Baseball career, St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado will not be taking home a Gold Glove. Arenado had previously secured the NL Gold Glove at third base for an impressive 10 consecutive MLB seasons (from 2013 to 2022). However, he did not make the cut as a finalist this year. The last player, aside from Arenado, to win the NL Gold Glove at third base was Chase Headley when he was with the San Diego Padres back in 2012. Arenado’s remarkable achievement of winning 10 consecutive Gold Gloves is now tied with Seattle Mariners legend and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki for the most consecutive Gold Gloves at the beginning of a player’s career.

It’s worth noting that Arenado’s defensive performance did experience a slight decline this season, making his absence from the list of finalists reasonable. Here is how he ranked among the eight NL players with over 800 innings at third base in various defensive statistics.

The Gold Glove award selection process combines both statistical and voting components. The statistical element accounts for 25% of the overall selection, while the remaining 75% comes from the voting process, carried out by the 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team. Managers and coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. Utility Gold Gloves are awarded using a separate statistical formula.

Now, let’s take a look at the 2023 Gold Glove finalists for both the American League and the National League:

American League:

Catcher

  1. Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers
  2. Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays
  3. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles

First base

  1. Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
  2. Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
  3. Anthony Rizzo, New York Yankees

Second base

  1. Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros
  2. Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians
  3. Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers

Shortstop

  1. Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins
  2. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
  3. Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees

Third base

  1. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
  2. Matt Chapman, Toronto Blue Jays
  3. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians

Left field

  1. Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles
  2. Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
  3. Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

Center field

  1. Kevin Kiermaier, Toronto Blue Jays
  2. Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
  3. Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners

Right field

  1. Adolis García, Texas Rangers
  2. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
  3. Alex Verdugo, Boston Red Sox

Pitcher

  1. José Berríos, Toronto Blue Jays
  2. Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins
  3. Pablo López, Minnesota Twins

Utility

  1. Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros
  2. Zach McKinstry, Detroit Tigers
  3. Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays

National League:

Catcher

  1. Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
  2. Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
  3. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies

First base

  1. Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Carlos Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers
  3. Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks

Second base

  1. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
  2. Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
  3. Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies

Shortstop

  1. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
  2. Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
  3. Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies

Third base

  1. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates
  2. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
  3. Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves

Left field

  1. Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
  2. David Peralta, Los Angeles Dodgers
  3. Eddie Rosario, Atlanta Braves

Center field

  1. Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
  2. Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
  3. Alek Thomas, Arizona Diamondbacks

Right field

  1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
  3. Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals

Pitcher

  1. Jesús Luzardo, Miami Marlins
  2. Taijuan Walker, Philadelphia Phillies
  3. Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies

Utility

  1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Tommy Edman, St. Louis Cardinals
  3. Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres
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Zheng Qinwen joins in impromptu karaoke to celebrate Zhengzhou’s victory

When will the new single be released? Following her victory at the WTA 500 in Zhengzhou, the emerging tennis sensation Zheng Qinwen celebrated a significant win on home soil with an impromptu karaoke session.

In the final on Sunday, she came back from a set down to defeat the 2021 Roland Garros champion, Barbora Krejcikova, with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, securing her second career title to add to her first win in Palermo on clay in July. Zheng delivered an impressive performance in the match, hitting 10 aces and 30 winners. However, she also hit all the right notes during the post-match trophy presentation, serenading the fans with a Chinese song, as humorously captioned by the WTA’s social media admin.

This musical moment was a fitting tribute as Zheng had previously shared her love for karaoke, along with rollercoasters, as her favorite off-court pastimes. She mentioned, “Mostly I sing Chinese songs, slower songs. I also do some Chinese rap. I maybe only sing three or four English songs. For the most part, it’s Chinese.”

Zheng’s victory marked her as the third Chinese player to win a title at the WTA 500 level or higher. In a historic year for Chinese tennis, she joined Zhu Lin and Wang Xiyu as 2023 became the first year when three Chinese women secured at least one WTA singles title in the same season.

Reflecting on her win, Zheng expressed her happiness, stating, “When I was on the court finishing the last point, I was feeling super happy. All the crowd yelling for me, they supported me in full. In that moment, the feeling was indescribable.”

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Victor Wembanyama becomes a one-man highlight reel in the second preseason game

In the early stages of the preseason, the NBA is already grappling with how to contain Victor Wembanyama.

For some context, the San Antonio Spurs’ top pick, selected as the No. 1 overall in the draft, stands at a towering 7 feet 4 inches, boasts an incredible 8-foot wingspan, and wields ball-handling skills that would make many guards envious. Wembanyama recently embarked on his maiden NBA preseason this week, immediately capturing attention with his dazzling performance, particularly in his first game against fellow towering player Chet Holmgren, where he notched an impressive 20 points.

Wembanyama then had his second preseason outing on Friday against the reigning Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat. While the Heat didn’t field their starting lineup, Wembanyama’s performance alone made the game a must-watch.

The rookie sensation concluded the game with a stunning 23 points, shooting at an impressive 10-of-15 from the field, in addition to contributing four rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. However, these statistics fail to fully encapsulate the extraordinary plays that Wembanyama consistently delivered.

Here are the top five remarkable moments Wembanyama showcased in just 23 minutes during the Spurs’ 120-104 victory:

  1. Euro-Step Dunk: In a relatively mundane play by Wembanyama’s standards, he engaged in a 2-on-1 fast break, culminating in a contested dunk after executing a Euro-step from the 3-point line.
  2. Defensive Denial: Wembanyama showcased his defensive prowess by leaping across the paint to reject a short jumper from Haywood Highsmith, who had assumed he had evaded the Frenchman’s reach as Dru Smith drove into the paint.
  3. Step-Back Jumper: Wembanyama demonstrated his finesse by crossing over a defender at the perimeter, executing a step-back move, and nailing a fadeaway jumper from the elbow, making a challenging move appear surprisingly effortless.
  4. Incredible Alley-Oop: The rookie initiated a give-and-go with Tre Jones, then sprinted from the 3-point line, intercepted the lob mid-air, and finished the play with an alley-oop that seemed nearly impossible due to the distance covered.
  5. Vertical Dunk: Wembanyama astounded with an incredible display of athleticism, launching into a fully vertical jump from beyond the restricted area, and then, employing his remarkable length, completed a left-handed dunk.

Wembanyama’s unique combination of physical attributes and skills is poised to redefine the norm in the NBA. The league has never witnessed a player with his extraordinary frame and capabilities, making the San Antonio Spurs a must-watch team for the foreseeable future.

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Dolphins defeat Giants to set an NFL record

Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea entered the final day of The Ascendant LPGA with a five-shot lead and maintained her dominance, finishing with a 2-under 69 to secure a four-shot victory.

This marked the second consecutive week of a wire-to-wire winner on the LPGA Tour, following Hae Ran Ryu’s victory in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Bianca Pagdanganan, the powerful player from the Philippines, closed with an impressive 65 to share the second-place position with Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, who also carded a 65.

“A five-shot lead feels comfortable, but I remained focused on maintaining that edge until the end,” remarked Kim.

Lexi Thompson, competing in her final LPGA Tour event before testing her skills on the PGA Tour in Las Vegas next week, managed a 70. She finished in fifth place, six shots behind Kim, and didn’t pose a serious threat.

Thompson expressed contentment with her progress, achieving her second consecutive top 10 finish after going the entire season without one. While her last LPGA victory dates back over four years, she did secure a win in a Saudi-funded event last year on the Ladies European Tour.

“I’m taking nothing but positives from it,” said Thompson.

When asked about the areas of her game she needed to work on for the Shriners Children’s Open, Thompson replied, “Honestly, everything.”

Lexi Thompson and Sarah Kemp of Australia were the closest pursuers to Kim heading into the final round. Kemp concluded with a 69, securing fourth place.

The stage at the Old American Golf Club was undoubtedly Kim’s show. She traded birdies and bogeys on the front nine but managed to secure two birdies on the back, maintaining her lead throughout.

Kim finished at 13-under 271 and earned $270,000, surpassing $2 million in earnings for the year for the first time in her career. Her initial LPGA Tour card was secured with a victory at the Evian Championship, her sole major title. This marked her sixth career LPGA victory, adding to her 14 titles on the Korean LPGA. Kim has now secured victories in three consecutive LPGA seasons.

Pagdanganan made a late surge with a back-nine score of 30, providing a glimmer of hope. Thitikul, on the other hand, birdied five of her last seven holes. However, Kim remained resolute over the back nine.

“It means a lot to be in contention this week,” Thitikul remarked. “It certainly boosts my confidence.”

Katherine Muzi, making her LPGA Tour debut as a Monday qualifier, closed with a 68. She tied for seventh, eight shots behind the leader, earning just over $45,000.

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Simone Biles wins her first world championship title since 2019 and 20th overall as her comeback continues

Simone Biles has reclaimed her world champion status, marking her return to the pinnacle of gymnastics excellence. At the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Biles led Team USA to a remarkable team title, securing her first world championship since her stellar performance in Stuttgart in 2019, where she clinched five gold medals. This victory adds to her extraordinary tally of 20 gold medals and 26 medals overall, solidifying her status as the most decorated gymnast in history.

In this remarkable display of talent, Simone Biles, alongside teammate Shilese Jones, competed in every apparatus, with Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely completing the team lineup for the final. Team USA’s exceptional performance earned them the gold medal, with Brazil taking home the silver, and France securing the bronze.

This victory marks the seventh consecutive women’s team title for the United States at the world championships, highlighting their unparalleled dominance in the sport. The last time a country other than the U.S. claimed this honor was back in 2010 when Russia emerged victorious.

Simone Biles showcased her exceptional skills, earning a score of 14.800 in the vault (despite not performing her most challenging skill), 14.466 in the uneven bars, 14.300 in the balance beam, and an impressive 15.166 in the floor exercise, ultimately clinching the title for Team USA. These scores culminated in a total score of 58.732. To put this in perspective, Biles secured the individual all-around title at the 2019 world championships with a total score of 58.999, significantly outpacing her competition.

This triumphant performance underscores a remarkable fact that has become increasingly evident since Simone Biles returned to competitive gymnastics this summer: she has regained her peak form, even after facing challenges at the 2020 Olympics and taking a two-year break from the sport.

Simone Biles’ journey in Antwerp is far from over as she has qualified for the finals in every apparatus, positioning herself to contend for her record-extending sixth world all-around title.

Beyond the medals and accolades, Biles has etched her name in history by successfully executing the Yurchenko double pike in the vault during the competition. This extraordinary feat has earned her the distinction of having the skill officially named after her in international gymnastics competition.

Simone Biles returned to competitive gymnastics in August with a commanding performance at the U.S. Classic, followed by a historic eighth all-around title at the U.S. Championships. Before her return to the sport, she spent two years focusing on her well-being, including seeking therapy and tying the knot with Green Bay Packers defensive back Jonathan Owens.

Looking ahead, Simone Biles’ next major challenge will be the 2024 Olympics in Paris, offering her a chance to rectify her experiences in Tokyo. At the 2020 Games (held in 2021), Biles, the overwhelming favorite for a second consecutive all-around gold medal, encountered difficulties with the “twisties.” Her struggles led to her withdrawal from the team competition, but she made a triumphant return in the final individual event, the balance beam, earning a bronze medal.

With her determination and talent, Simone Biles has unequivocally expressed her intention to compete at the 2024 Olympics, where she is poised to captivate the world once again as athletes converge in Paris.

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