Gold Glove Award winners announced; Jeter, Jackson to receive special recognition
— -- Nolan Arenado, Jason Heyward and Alex Gordon each won a fifth career Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Tuesday night.
Arenado, the All-Star Colorado Rockies third baseman, joins Ichiro Suzuki as the only players to win at least five Gold Gloves to start their careers, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
"Obviously, five, it's a pretty special number," Arenado said. "It means a lot. ... Right now I want to try to win as many as I can while I'm healthy."
Heyward joins Andre Dawson as the only Cubs outfielder to win consecutive Gold Gloves, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
This marks the 60th anniversary of the award, given to the best defensive players at their respective positions. This year's honorees feature 12 previous winners and six first-time winners:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
- P Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays - 1st award
- C Martin Maldonado, Los Angeles Angels - 1st award
- 1B Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals - 4th award
- 2B Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins - 1st award
- 3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays - 3rd award
- SS Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels - 3rd award
- LF Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals - 5th award
- CF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins - 1st award
- RF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox - 2nd award
NATIONAL LEAGUE
- P Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks - 4th award
- C Tucker Barnhart, Cincinnati Reds - 1st award
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks - 3rd award
- 2B DJ LeMahieu, Colorado Rockies - 2nd award
- 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies - 5th award
- SS Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants - 3rd award
- LF Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins - 1st award
- CF Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves - 2nd award
- RF Jason Heyward, Chicago Cubs - 5th award
World Series champions Houston Astros and NL champions Los Angeles Dodgers were both shut out. Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel had won the last three years. Meanwhile, the Twins were represented by two first-time winners in Buxton and Dozier.
"This is a special moment," Buxton said.
Barnhart, the Reds' first catcher to win since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1977, also became the second different catcher ( San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey won in 2016) to win in the NL in the last two years after St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina won eight straight at the position. Posey and Molina were again nominated this year.?
"It's as good as it gets for me. I'm a defensive guy and I take a lot of pride in that," Barnhart said. "I am taken aback by it, to be honest with you. ... Buster and Yadi are obviously two of the best guys in baseball."
Maldonado snapped Salvador Perez's four-year winning streak for AL catcher.
The "Best of the Best" honor -- voted on by fans --- will be unveiled Friday, and will be given to one AL winner and one NL winner.
Additionally, Derek Jeter will be recognized with the Rawlings Heart of Gold Award and Reggie Jackson will be honored with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Omar Vizquel and Ivan Rodriguez will also be inducted into the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Hall of Fame.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.?
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