CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Perfect Game National Showcase alumni Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies and Alex Gordon from the Kansas City Royals have each earned their seventh Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, it was announced Sunday night.
This year’s winners were determined by a combination of votes submitted by MLB managers and coaches and a sabermetric index provided by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
The center fielder Gordon, who was at the 2001 PG National, picked up his third straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award and seventh since 2011. The third baseman Arenado, who was at the 2008 PG National, was awarded for a seventh straight year, one for each season he’s played in the big leagues.
Houston Astros right-hander Zack Greinke, an alumnus of both the 2001 and 2002 PG World Showcase, received his sixth Rawlings Gold Glove and earned it in the National League. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks the first four months of the season before being sent to Houston at the trade deadline.
Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor received his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award and his first since 2016. Lindor performed at both the PG All-American Classic and the PG National in 2010, and the PG Junior National in 2009 before the Indians selected him with the eighth pick overall in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, an alumnus of the 2006 PG National, claimed his second straight Gold Glove and his third since 2016. Other Gold Glove recipients who are also alumni of the PG National include A's first baseman Matt Olson in the American League, and Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (2007) and Dodgers right-fielder Cody Bellinger (2012) in the National League.
What follows is a quick look at this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners who were on rosters in at least one PG event during their high school years (number of Gold Gloves won in parentheses):
American League
Pitcher – Michael Leake, Mariners (1): 2004 WWBA
Catcher – Roberto Perez, Indians (1): 2005 WWBA
First Base – Matt Olson, Athletics (2): 2008-11 WWBA
Third Base – Matt Chapman,, Athletics: (2): 2007 BCS CA
Shortstop – Francisco Lindor, Indians (2): 2010 PG All-American Classic; 2010 PG National; 2009 PG Jr. National; 2008-10 WWBA/BCS
Left Field – Alex Gordon, Royals (7): 2001 PG National
Center Field – Kevin Kiermaier, Rays (3): 2008 WWBA
Right Field – Mookie Betts, Red Sox (4): 2011 WWBA/BCS
National League
Pitcher – Zack Greinke, Diamondbacks (6): 2001-02 PG World; 2001-02 WWBA
First Base – Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (3): 2006 PG National; 2005-06 PG showcases; 2005-07 WWBA/BCS
Second Base – Kolten Wong, Cardinals (1): 2007 PG National; 2006-08 PG Hawaii showcases; 2007 WWBA
Third Base – Nolan Arenado, Rockies (7): 2008 PG National; 2007-08 PG showcases; 2007-08 WWBA
Shortstop – Nick Ahmed, Diamondbacks (2): 2007 PG showcases; 2007 WWBA
Center Field – Lorenzo Cain, Brewers (1): 2003 WWBA
Right Field – Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (1): 2012 PG National; 2011-12 WWBA