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