The 2023 Gold Glove Awards were announced Sunday night on ESPN, and from an epic streak that was broken to individual and team history, the results are in.
There are 13 first-time winners, the second most since the award’s inception in 1957, behind only last year’s 14 (a Gold Glove category for utility players was introduced in 2022). This is also the fourth consecutive year that there have been at least ten first-time winners, which is a new record.
Two rookies won Gold Glove Awards, one in each league. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the third time in the award’s history that multiple rookies have won (also two in 2020 and three in 2022).
Here’s a breakdown of each winner:
A few days after experiencing the unprecedented thrill of winning the World Series, Lowe’s week ended with the first Gold Glove Award of his career. The 28-year-old slugger took a step back in 2023, posting a .775 OPS with 17 homers after breaking out in the 2022 season where he hit 27 homers with an .851 OPS. But his offensive woes didn’t affect his play on the field — Lowe finished with four outs above average, according to Statcast, a huge improvement from his OAA of minus-11 in 2022, which was the lowest among qualified first basemen. More >
For the second straight year, Giménez won the AL Gold Glove Award at second base. The 25-year-old led AL second basemen with 18 outs above average and 23 defensive runs saved. Giménez is the second Cleveland player to win multiple Gold Glove Awards at second base, joining Roberto Alomar, who won three straight from 1999 to 2001. More >
Chapman had another outstanding defensive season at the hot corner, winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award. He became the second third baseman in Blue Jays history to receive this award (also Kelly Gruber in 1990). He led all AL third baseman with 12 defensive runs saved in 2023, increasing his career total to 92. Since Chapman made his MLB debut in 2017, no other AL third baseman has come close to that number – Isiah Kiner-Falefa is second with 19 DRS. More >
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Volpe is the first rookie in Yankees history to win a Gold Glove Award, thanks to a debut season in which he collected 15 defensive runs saved. He is also the second rookie shortstop to win the Gold Glove Award, joining Jeremy Peña of the Astros (2022). At 22 years, 156 days on the final day of the regular season, Volpe became the youngest shortstop to win this honor, surpassing Alan Trammell in 1980 (22 years, 228 days). And he is the second Yankees shortstop to win it, joining Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, who won five times (2004-06, 2009-10). More >
The Rangers achieved further success by setting a franchise record with three Gold Glove Award winners in the same year. In addition to having a career year in helping Texas to its first World Series title, Heim earned his first All-Star selection and now his first career Gold Glove Award. Heim led AL backstops in runs fielded above average with 22.8, according to FanGraphs. Before Heim won the award this year, only two other Rangers catchers had done so: Ivan Rodriguez (1992-2001) and Jim Sundberg (1976-81). More >
The Jays, who set a franchise record with three Gold Glove Award winners this year, were pleased to see Berríos bounce back from his worst season in the major leagues in 2022, when he struggled with a 5.23 ERA . In 1923, he looked more like the Berríos of the day, posting a 3.65 ERA in 32 starts. But Toronto also got excellent defense off the mound from the 29-year-old right-hander, who joins Marcus Stroman (2017) and RA Dickey (2013) as the only pitchers in franchise history to win a Gold Glove Award. More >
For Kwan, who led MLB left fielders in defensive runs saved (16) and outs above average (nine), he earned two Gold Glove awards in two major league seasons. He joins Kenny Lofton (1993-96) and Grady Sizemore (2007-08) as the only Cleveland outfielders to win multiple Gold Glove Awards. More >
Kiermaier has been one of the game’s best midfielders for several years, and the 33-year-old veteran is still thriving defensively, winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award and his first since 2019. He tied for the league lead among center field players with 18 defensive runs saved and 13 outs above average. He is the fifth Blue Jays outfielder to win a Gold Glove Award – the others being Vernon Wells (2004-06), Shawn Green (1999), Devon White (1991-95) and Jesse Barfield (1986-87). More >
While his career-high 39 home runs during the regular season and eight in the postseason grabbed headlines, let’s not discount García’s stellar defense in 2023. He received his first career Gold Glove award and the fourth by an outfielder in Rangers history, thank you. Of particular note is his masterful arm – his average arm strength of 93 mph, which resulted in 11 assists, was in the 95th .Percentile among qualified outfielders. More >
Dubón, another first-time winner, appeared at every position on the diamond except pitcher and catcher for Houston in 2023, spending the majority of that time at either second base or center field. He was a slightly below-average hitter, so most of his value – he posted 1.9 fKWAR – came from his defense. Although he spent about half the season at second base (616 2/3 innings), he finished the game with five defensive runs batted at that position and two in the outfield. More >
Thanks to the D-backs’ unlikely success in the World Series and his stellar defense in the postseason, Walker is no longer as underrated as he once was. This is the hitting first baseman’s second Gold Glove Award after he received the honor last year of becoming the second first baseman in franchise history to win it (also Paul Goldschmidt in 2013, 2015 and 2017). In 2023, Walker led all MLB first basemen with 11 outs above average. More >
Hoerner is a first-time Gold Glove Award winner after a great defensive season as half of the Cubs’ outstanding double-play duo in center, along with shortstop Dansby Swanson. Hoerner tied Brice Turang of the Brewers and tied for the league lead among second basemen with 12 defensive runs saved. He is the fifth Cubs second baseman to win a Gold Glove Award. The others are Darwin Barney (2012), Ryne Sandberg (1983-91), Glenn Beckert (1968) and Ken Hubbs (1962). More >
For the first time in 11 years, a third baseman not named Nolan Arenado won the Gold Glove Award at the Hot Corner in the Netherlands. Hayes had come close before, but he finally made his breakthrough in 2023. Ke’Bryan, the son of former major league third baseman Charlie Hayes, who reached the finals of the 1996 World Series and enjoyed a 14-year big league career, led all third baseman with 17 outs above average, 21 defensive runs saved and a Statcast fielding run score of 13. He is the first Pirates third baseman to win this honor. More >
Swanson didn’t have as good a season at the plate in his first year with the Cubs as he did in his final season with the Braves, but his defense remained excellent. For the second straight season, he led all shortstops with 20 outs above average. He also set a career high with 18 defensive runs saved, which led all shortstops. As is his fielding run rating of 15. It is Swanson’s second Gold Glove Award and he is the fourth Cubs shortstop to win it, joining Javier Báez (2020), Don Kessinger (1969-70) and Ernie Banks (1960). has. More >
In 2023, Moreno led MLB backstops in defensive runs saved (20) and Statcast’s average number of times caught stealing (nine), becoming the first D-Backs catcher to win a Gold Glove Award. And with only 19 major league games played behind the plate to start the season, there are only two non-rookies (pitchers excluded) – Ramón Urías (10 games at third base since 2022) and Pokey Reese (11 games at second base since 1999) – – have played in fewer games at the position for which they won the Gold Glove Award. At 23 years, 229 days, Moreno is the sixth-youngest catcher to win his first Gold Glove award. More >
Not only was he once again one of the best pitchers in the game in 2023, showcasing his prowess for Philadelphia for the second straight postseason game, but Wheeler also proved he can flash defensively with his first Gold Glove Award . Wheeler is the fourth Phillies pitcher to win this award, joining Jim Kaat (1976-77), Steve Carlton (1981) and Bobby Shantz (1964). More >
Happ’s second consecutive Gold Glove Award makes it a franchise record three selections for the Cubs this year. The 29-year-old led all MLB left fielders in 2023 with 12 assists and an ultimate zone rating of 10.7, making the most of an above-average, if not elite, outfield arm. Happ is the third Cubs outfielder to win multiple Gold Glove Awards – the others being Jason Heyward (2016-17) and Andre Dawson (1987-88). More >
Colorado’s rookie outfielder wowed the baseball world with his arm — he set a Statcast record with a 105.7 mph throw to home plate against the Blue Jays on Sept. 2 — but his all-around stellar defense in center field got Doyle a Gold Glove a award. Aside from the outstanding arm, his glove wasn’t bad either – Doyle led all of baseball with a fielding run rate of 21 and became the sixth rookie outfielder to win a Gold Glove. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he joins Tommie Agee (1966), Fred Lynn (1975), Ichiro Suzuki (2001), Luis Robert (2020) and Kwan (2022). More >
When Tatis was moved from shortstop to right field at the start of 2023, we wondered how he would fare out there. He was a revelation defensively, leading the MLB with 29 defensive runs saved, and his 96.6 mph average arm strength trailed only Rockies rookie Nolan Jones in the NL. Tatis’ 24 career games in the outfield prior to the ’23 season were the fourth fewest played at a position for which a non-rookie won a Gold Glove Award. More >
Kim was once again the model of infield versatility for San Diego this season, appearing at second base, third base and shortstop – although he primarily played at second base. He combined for 16 defensive runs saved – 10 at second and three each at third and short. His 10 DRS at second base trailed only the NL co-leaders at that position, Hoerner and Turang (12 each). More >