AL Gold Glove finalists named
Dallas Keuchel, Martin Maldonado and Alex Bregman were each named American League Gold Glove Award finalists on Thursday.
The Astros have not had a Gold Glove winner since 2016, when Keuchel claimed the third of his career.
Contending for the sport’s highest defensive honor is nothing new for Keuchel or Maldonado, each of whom are impending free agents.
Keuchel’s 41 total chances led the American League.
He did not commit an error all season and had 27 assists — second in the American League — crucial given his major leaguehigh 53.7 percent groundball rate. He won a Gold Glove in every season from 2014-16.
Keuchel will contend this season against Masahiro Tanaka and Corey
Kluber for a fourth honor in his seven-year career. No American League pitcher has won four Gold Gloves in a five-year span since Kenny Rogers from 2002-06.
Maldonado, who won a Gold Glove last season with the Angels, was acquired by the Astros in July almost solely for his defense. During his three months in Houston, Maldonado permitted just three stolen bases and three passed balls.
As an Astro, Maldonado accrued five caught stealings. The 18 total stolen bases he allowed this season were the fewest among qualified American League catchers. His 48.6 caught stealing percentage led the American League, too. Yan Gomes and Salvador Perez are the other finalists alongside Maldonado.
Bregman is a Gold Glove finalist for the first time in his major league career. He committed just 13 errors in 342 total chances at third base, where he made 133 of his 157 starts. He is a finalist along with Matt Chapman and Jose Ramirez.