Rawlings, the Society Of American Baseball Research (SABR) and MLB announced the winners of the Platinum Glove late on Friday.
The Platinum Glove award is given every year to the most outstanding defender in each league regardless of his position.
In 2024, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Bryce Turang took home the recognition in the National League.
Logic, the eye test and the stats indicated that Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez should have won the award in the junior circuit.
However, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh won it, to the surprise of many.
Don’t get us wrong: Raleigh is a marvelous defender behind the plate, returning 17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 12.9 Framing Runs.
Giménez, however, was first in the American League and second in MLB in DRS with 20 from the keystone.
Giménez also led the American League with 19 Outs Above Average (OAA) and showed his usual instincts, soft hands, strong and accurate arm.
The thing is that it’s difficult to compare defense in positions that are so different: the skillet for a successful second baseman isn’t the same as, say, a catcher.
That’s why things like DRS can help break a perceived tie, and Giménez has the DRS edge.
Giménez also led all American League defenders in SABR Defensive index with 16.1.
In the AL, @CleGuardians 2B Andrés Giménez led all defenders in the 2024 #SABR Defensive Index rankings. Here are the full positional rankings for this season: https://t.co/pPWn7hY8qI @RawlingsSports pic.twitter.com/ezoYBsUvdr
— SABR (@sabr) November 4, 2024
Raleigh was fourth with 11.4.
Fan vote might have had a lot to do with the final results, though.
Guardians fans know, regardless of the result of the voting, that they probably have MLB’s most impressive defender, or at least a top three performer.
Giménez should have won his second Platinum Glove.
NEXT: Analyst Notes Biggest Question Facing Guardians This Offseason
