Wheeler takes home first career Gold Glove, 3 Phillies don’t win

Wheeler takes home first career Gold Glove, 3 Phillies don’t win

The Philadelphia Phillies had four players nominated as finalists for the prestigious Gold Glove awards, all playing important positions up the middle. Unfortunately, only one of them was able to secure the coveted honor. Pitcher Zack Wheeler emerged as the winner of the 2023 National League Gold Glove on Sunday night.

This marks a significant milestone in Wheeler’s career as it is his very first Gold Glove, and his first individual award of any kind. Back in 2021, he narrowly missed out on the NL Cy Young Award, finishing as the runner-up, but he earned a well-deserved spot on the All-MLB team that year. In 2023, Wheeler continued to impress, further establishing himself as a contender, although many consider Blake Snell, who is set to become a free agent, as the frontrunner for the award.

Throughout the season, Wheeler exhibited masterful control over the running game. Despite the new restrictions on pick-offs and larger bases, opposing base stealers managed to convert only 3 out of 7 attempts against him in his 32 starts. Even during the playoffs, teams were cautious about challenging his defensive prowess until the Diamondbacks finally took the risk in Game 7 of the NLCS, when Wheeler entered the game as a late relief pitcher.

The other two finalists for the National League Gold Glove in the pitching category were Wheeler’s teammate Taijuan Walker and Marlins lefty Jesus Luzardo. Walker specifically stood out with his exceptional pick-off move, securing an impressive six pick-offs, the most for any right-handed pitcher in the majors.

Interestingly, Ranger Suarez, who is widely regarded as the Phillies’ top defensive pitcher, did not receive a nomination due to falling short of the 138 innings requirement set by his team. Suarez concluded the season with a total of 125 innings pitched.

The Gold Glove awards are determined by votes from MLB managers and coaches. Alongside Wheeler and Walker, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto and second baseman Bryson Stott also made it to the finals. However, the award for catcher went to Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs emerged victorious at second base.

Realmuto has previously won the Gold Glove on two occasions. As for Stott, this has been a remarkable year for him, excelling in his first full season as a second baseman, and he is expected to receive more nominations in the future.

As the 2023 season progressed, the Phillies showed significant improvement in their defensive capabilities. With Bryce Harper taking over first base and Kyle Schwarber assuming the designated hitter role, the team’s defense transitioned from neutral to above average. Realmuto and Stott proved to be plus defenders in their respective positions, and the Phillies have high hopes for Johan Rojas to seize the everyday center field job next season by demonstrating offensive growth.