10 American League First-Timers to Become 2024 Gold Glove Winners

First-timers once again stole the show when ESPN announced the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards on Sunday night. Having such great players in the team influences not only the success of matches but also the high betting odds for top tournaments

Ten first-time American League Gold Glovers were among this year’s winners. Naturally, it is worth mentioning that Rawlings awarded a utility player with a Gold Glove for the first time in every league in 2022. This continues the longest streak in the award’s history, with at least 10 first-time winners for the 5th consecutive season.

Cal Raleigh, Catcher from the Mariners

Raleigh was outstanding behind the plate, paving the way to his first Gold Glove in his career and the first of any Mariners catchers. Having completed 17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), he took the lead of every AL backstop and was the 2nd in the Majors, allowing only San Francisco’s Patrick Bailey to surpass him. Raleigh also led all AL catchers in catcher framing runs metric from Baseball Savant, which further contributed to the success of the pitching staff from Seattle this season.

Carlos Santana, First Base from the Twins

The Elias Sports Bureau says that Santana is going to be the oldest position player to win the Gold Glove Award for the first time in his career. On the season’s last day, he’ll get 38 years and 174 days old. Pitchers R.A. Dickey (38 years, 336 days in 2013) and Phil Niekro (39 years old in 1978) were the only older players to win their first Gold Glove. Having made 14 Outs Above Average, Santana took the lead over every major league first baseman, and his 8 DRS were intertwined with Baltimore’s Ryan Mountcastle more than any other AL first baseman.

Andrés Giménez, Second Base from the Guardians

Giménez had twice as many DRS (20) as any other AL second baseman this season (Marcus Semien came in the second with 10 DRS). Additionally, he had 21 OAA, which was just more than Semien’s 19 and outnumbered all Major League second basemen. Giménez has now won the Gold Glove Award two times in a row and is nominated for the third award this year.

Bobby Witt Jr., Shortstop from the Royals

In addition to his offensive proficiency, Witt has made a name for himself as a true superstar. He took the lead in all AL shortstops, making 16 OAA, and he also led the Majors with a .332 average, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 109 RBIs. That performance earned Witt his first career Gold Glove Award.

Alex Bregman, Third Base from the Astros

The first Gold Glove Award will be added to Bregman’s trophy collection. After one of his best seasons, the two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion earned his first Gold Glove. After only accumulating 4 DRS between 2020 and 2023, Bregman amassed 6 DRS in 2024. In addition, he moved past Josh Rojas into second place among AL third basemen with 6 OAA, only surpassed by Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Steven Kwan, Left Field from the Guardians

Steven Kwan joins Kenny Lofton as another Cleveland outfielder to win 3 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, putting him in good company. Over the last 3 seasons, Kwan has amassed 47 DRS, more than twice the total of any other left fielder. He led all AL left fielders with 9 outfield assists, earning him his honour.

Daulton Varsho, Centre Field from the Blue Jays

Varsho’s impressive performance across the Blue Jays’ outfield earned him his first Gold Glove. According to Baseball-Reference, Varsho actually had the highest 3.1 defensive WAR of any player at any position this season. He recorded 28 DRS between the centre and left field, outpacing all other outfielders by 5. The only player within 10 DRS of Varsho was Jarren Duran of Boston, who had 23 DRS.

Wilyer Abreu, Right Field from the Red Sox

This season, Abreu excelled on defence and became the first rookie to win a Gold Glove for the Red Sox since Fred Lynn in 1975. Abreu, 24, tied for the most outfield assists and OAA of any player at the position, leading all fielders located on the right with 17 DRS.

Seth Lugo, Pitcher from the Royals

Lugo is the only pitcher from the Royals to win the Gold Glove Award, joining Bret Saberhagen in doing so for the first time. Lugo did not make a mistake, and his 5 DRS tied him for the second-highest total of any pitcher this season.

Dylan Moore, Utility from the Mariners

Moore once again demonstrated his versatility for the Mariners, earning his first Gold Glove. This season, he appeared in eleven games at 1st base, thirty-seven games at 2nd base, fourty-five games at 3rd base, fourty-nine games at shortstop, twenty-two games in left field, and even appeared in centre field in a single inning. At each stop, Moore proved to be a valuable defender.