2021 Gold Gloves: 5 Cards make history, Semien wins after position switch
Major League Baseball's announcing of the 2021 Gold Glove Award winners Sunday became a celebration of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals became the first team in history to have five Gold Glove winners in one season, as Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Tommy Edman, Tyler O'Neill, and Harrison Bader all won in the National League. A sixth Cardinal, Yadier Molina, was a finalist at his position but lost out to Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings.
In the American League, Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Marcus Semien was rewarded for his mid-career position switch. Semien shifted from shortstop to the keystone upon signing in Toronto and ended up with his first-ever Gold Glove.
Here are the full results:
AL Catcher
Winner: Sean Murphy (1st), Athletics
| INN. | DRS | Runners CS |
|---|---|---|
| 923.1 | 10 | 13 |
Murphy is the first A's catcher to win a Gold Glove.
Runners-up: Martin Maldonado (HOU), Salvador Perez (KC)
AL First Base
Winner: Yuli Gurriel (1st), Astros
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1222.0 | 5 | -0.1 | 1057 |
The 37-year-old Gurriel is the oldest first baseman to win this award.
Runners-up: Matt Olson (OAK), Jared Walsh (LAA)
AL Second Base
Winner: Marcus Semien (1st), Blue Jays
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1246.1 | 11 | 6.3 | 202 |
Runners-up: David Fletcher (LAA), Whit Merrifield (KC)
AL Third Base
Winner: Matt Chapman (3rd), Athletics
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1314.2 | 10 | 8.7 | 166 |
Runners-up: Jose Ramirez (CLE), Joey Wendle (TB)
AL Shortstop
Winner: Carlos Correa (1st), Astros
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1304.2 | 21 | 2.9 | 183 |
Correa is the first Astros shortstop to win this award since Roger Metzger in 1973, when the team was in the National League.
Runners-up: Andrelton Simmons (MIN), J.P. Crawford (SEA)
AL Left Field
Winner: Andrew Benintendi (1st), Royals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1116.0 | 7 | 4.9 | 6 | 225 |
Benintendi makes it five straight years with a Royals left fielder winning the Gold Glove. Alex Gordon, who retired last year, won it from 2016-20.
Runners-up: Randy Arozarena (TB), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (TOR)
AL Center Field
Winner: Michael A. Taylor (1st), Royals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1186.0 | 19 | 13.3 | 11 | 351 |
Taylor's 11 outfield assists led all AL center fielders.
Runners-up: Kevin Kiermaier (TB), Myles Straw (CLE)
AL Right Field
Winner: Joey Gallo (2nd), Rangers/Yankees
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 764.2 | 11 | 2.8 | 4 | 192 |
Gallo won the right field Gold Glove for a second straight year despite shifting to left field after being acquired by the Yankees.
Runners-up: Hunter Renfroe (BOS), Kyle Tucker (HOU)
AL Pitcher
Winner: Dallas Keuchel (5th), White Sox
| INN. | DRS | PO | A | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 162.0 | 12 | 7 | 41 | 1 |
Runners-up: Jose Berrios (TOR), Zack Greinke (HOU)
NL Catcher
Winner: Jacob Stallings (1st), Pirates
| INN. | DRS | Runners CS |
|---|---|---|
| 892.0 | 21 | 12 |
Stallings' 21 defensive runs saved were the most at any position and 12 more than the next-closest NL catcher. He also didn't allow a passed ball.
Runners-up: Yadier Molina (STL), J.T. Realmuto (PHI)
NL First Base
Winner: Paul Goldschmidt (4th), Cardinals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1313.0 | 10 | 3.5 | 1144 |
Runners-up: Freddie Freeman (ATL), Max Muncy (LAD)
NL Second Base
Winner: Tommy Edman (1st), Cardinals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1032.1 | 6 | 1.2 | 195 |
Edman dethroned Wong, the two-time reigning NL winner at second base and his predecessor at the keystone in St. Louis.
Runners-up: Ozzie Albies (ATL), Kolten Wong (MIL)
NL Third Base
Winner: Nolan Arenado (9th), Cardinals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1312.0 | 6 | 5.7 | 125 |
Arenado's nine Gold Gloves are third-most all time at the hot corner. He also joins Ichiro Suzuki as just the second player to win at least nine straight Gold Gloves to start his career.
Runners-up: Ryan McMahon (COL), Manny Machado (SD)
NL Shortstop
Winner: Brandon Crawford (4th), Giants
| INN. | DRS | UZR | PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1165.2 | 6 | 2.6 | 168 |
Crawford is the fourth Giant with at least four career Gold Gloves, joining J.T. Snow, Barry Bonds, and Willie Mays.
Runners-up: Francisco Lindor (NYM), Kevin Newman (PIT)
NL Left Field
Winner: Tyler O'Neill (2nd), Cardinals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1105.0 | 12 | 6.7 | 7 | 221 |
Runners-up: David Peralta (ARI), AJ Pollock (LAD)
NL Center Field
Winner: Harrison Bader (1st), Cardinals
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 886.2 | 15 | 11.4 | 3 | 289 |
Runners-up: Jackie Bradley Jr. (MIL), Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
NL Right Field
Winner: Adam Duvall (1st), Marlins/Braves
| INN. | DRS | UZR | OF Assists | PO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1155.0 | 19 | 9.9 | 12 | 260 |
Duvall, who split his season between the Braves and Marlins, led all NL outfielders in defensive runs saved. He played all three outfield positions in 2021.
Runners-up: Mookie Betts (LAD), Mike Yastrzemski (SF)
NL Pitcher
Winner: Max Fried (2nd), Braves
| INN. | DRS | PO | A | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 165.2 | 6 | 8 | 37 | 1 |
Runners-up: Zach Davies (CHC), Zack Wheeler (PHI)
(Statistics used: DRS = Defensive Runs Saved, UZR = Ultimate Zone Rating)