Yadier Molina congratulates Adam Wainwright after a complete game earlier this season. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Missouri baseball fans…you have the two best defensive catchers in baseball. How cool is that?
Despite missing seven weeks with a broken thumb, Yadier Molina has won his seventh National League Gold Glove, moving him into a tie with Bob Boone for the catcher’s position. Royals catcher Salvador Perez repeated as the American League Gold Glove winner.
Molina appeared in 107 games behind plate. His fielding percentage was .998 and he had just two errors in 868 attempts. He threw out 21 of 44 potential base stealers for a success rate of 48%. The MLB average is 28%.
Perez spent 146 of the 152 games behind the plate. His fielding percentage was .992, committing just nine errors in over 1,100 chances. He threw out 25 of 57 would-be stealers for a 30% success rate.
Hosmer is the first AL first baseman to win back-to-back awards since the Yankees’ Mark Teixeira in 2009-10. Despite missing a month with a broken hand, Hosmer still was second in total chances with 1,141 and made just 10 errors.
Gordon’s story is perhaps the most inspiring. Gordon started as a left fielder in 2011, his first season since switching from third base, and started his string of Gold Gloves. In 2010, he swallowed his pride and went down to Triple-A Omaha. He went to work on his hitting, but also learned the position that he has now blossomed into. Remember, Gordon was tabbed as the next “George Brett.”
Adam Wainwright who was a finalist for Gold Glove at pitcher, lost to L.A. Dodgers starter Zack Greinke and Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar was a candidate and lost to J.J. Hardy of Baltimore.
