Altuve, Keuchel earn Gold Gloves
As the Astros began showing signs of improvement in 2014, Dallas Keuchel often told teammates they would start getting more individual accolades once the club became competitive.
Those awards are trickling in for the men who guided the Astros to their first playoff appearance since 2005. Keuchel and second baseman Jose Altuve, the Astros’ two All-Stars in 2015, were honored with American League Gold Gloves for their respective positions Tuesday night.
The Gold Gloves were announced less than an hour after Keuchel was named a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award, Carlos Correa was named a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, and A.J. Hinch was named a finalist for AL Manager of the Year.
“I really think it’s a combination of us getting better and people starting to give respect to the Astros again,” said Keuchel, who was 20-8 in 2015.
Keuchel and Altuve are the first Astros to win Gold Gloves in the same year since first baseman
Jeff Bagwell and second baseman Craig Biggio in 1994. Altuve is the first Astros second baseman to win it since Biggio won four in a row from 1994 through 1997.
In earning his second consecutive Gold Glove, Keuchel committed one error in a career- and ALhigh 72 defensive chances. His .986 fielding percentage in 2015 was slightly better than the .985 he posted in 2014.
“It really excites me, and it’s something that I take great pride in,” Keuchel said of his defense.
Altuve became the ninth player in Astros history to earn a Gold Glove. Keuchel is the sixth Astro to win multiple Gold Gloves.
“They deserve accolades,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “And I’m glad that some of the Houston Astro players and staff are getting national recognition. That’s big for us.”
Astros catcher Jason Castro was a finalist in a bid for his first Gold Glove, but All-Star Royals catcher Salvador Perez won it for a third consecutive year.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, a graduate of The Woodlands High School, won his second National League Gold Glove.
Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes won the AL award despite being traded from the Tigers to the Mets on July 31 and spending a third of the season in the NL.
Altuve, the 2014 AL batting champion who is more renowned for his consecutive 200-hit seasons, committed only five errors in 669 total chances for a career-high .993 fielding percentage. He edged out the Tigers’ Ian Kinsler and the Twins’ Brian Dozier.
Kinsler, a six-time AllStar who was considered Altuve’s stiffest competition for the award, committed 13 errors in 727 chances for a .982 fielding percentage.