The Los Angeles Dodgers’ season ended may have ended in disappointment, but it doesn’t prevent individual players from being recognized for strong campaigns.
Such is the case with Adrian Gonzalez, who on Thursday, was announced by Rawlings as one of the three finalists for the 2015 Gold Glove Award.
He’s joined at first base by Brandon Belt of the San Francisco Giants and Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Belt has never won the award, Goldschmidt has one in his career (2013), while Gonzalez has taken home a Gold Glove four times — including last season.
All but one of the four Gold Gloves Gonzalez has won have come in the National League. Prior to 2014, he last won the award in 2011 as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
Managers and coaches will vote on the Gold Glove finalists, with winners announced Nov. 10.
Last year the Dodgers had four finalists in Gonzalez, third baseman Justin Turner, and pitchers Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. This year only Greinke joins Gonzalez as a nominee.
Gonzalez tied for fifth in the NL with a .996 fielding percentage, which ranked 14th overall. His 10 defensive runs saved trail only Goldschmidt’s 18 for best in the Majors.
This season the Dodgers’ first baseman had 1,267 putouts, 116 assists, 100 double plays, and six errors in 1,389 chances over 1,254.1 innings.
Gonzalez in 2014 had 1,318 putouts, 118 assists, 118 double plays, and six errors in 1,325.1 innings. He finished with an identical fielding percentage in both seasons.
Gonzalez has never had a fielding percentage at first base below .990 over his 12-year career.
