For anyone who has followed baseball in the last two or three years, it’s not a secret that Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez is a magician with the glove.
He is a two-time Gold Glove award winner at the keystone, and took home the ultimate defensive award a player can get: the Platinum Glove.
Sometimes, however, we need the numbers to illustrate or prove what we see every day.
The stats, in this case, validate what we already know: Giménez is an elite second baseman with the glove, quite likely the best in baseball.
“With 21 defensive runs saved and +20 outs above average, Platinum Glove winner Andrés Giménez is an absolute artist in the field,” Bally Sports Cleveland posted on X.
With 21 defensive runs saved and +20 outs above average, Platinum Glove winner Andrés Giménez is an absolute artist in the field. 🎨 #ForTheLand | @CleGuardians | #VeloSano | @bikeVeloSano
🚴 Together, we are VeloSano. Together, to cure cancer.
💻 https://t.co/iUgN8xBQdF pic.twitter.com/2wprWOUWs4— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 24, 2024
Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and Outs Above Average (OAA) are two different ways to quantify and evaluate defensive performance.
They have their differences, but both are very much accepted within the industry as the gold standard of fielding evaluation.
Giménez excels at both.
His 21 DRS are first in the American League and second in MLB among second basemen behind Bryce Turang’s 23.
His OAA does league the entire MLB, whereas Turang’s is six.
By the stats, the eye test and the tools, there is no second baseman in MLB as good as Gimenez.
He is overqualified for the position, though, as he is a natural shortstop.
For now, another top-notch fielder, Brayan Rocchio, is at shortstop but the Guardians could send Giménez there in the future to accommodate Travis Bazzana at the keystone.
In any case and in the meantime, Cleveland has a magician and an artist at second base.
NEXT: Guardians Insider Believes Team Star Should Finish In The Top 3 In MVP Voting
