The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves get franchise-best 3 Gold Gloves
Freddie Freeman has his long-awaited Gold Glove. Ender Inciarte continued his artistry. And Nick Markakis capped his career year.
The Braves cleaned up the 2018 Gold Glove awards. Freeman, Inciarte and Markakis each earned the prestigious honor, which is awarded to the best individual defender at his position in his respective league. The Gold Glove winners were announced Sunday night.
Three Gold Gloves marks the franchise’s new high for one season (the award began in 1957).
Inciarte claimed his third consecutive Gold Glove in center field, becoming the first Brave to do so since Andruw Jones owned the title for a decade.
“Winning the Gold Glove award means everything to me,” Inciarte said in a state- ment released by the team. “It is a good feeling knowing that all the work I put in every offseason has paid off. I want to keep getting bet- ter and receiving this award because the feeling never gets old.”
Freeman tied the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo, so both players were declared winners. Freeman is the first first baseman in Braves his- tory to achieve the honor. It was the fourth tie in Gold Glove history.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense; it’s just as important to me as my offense,” Free- man said in a statement. “It means a lot to me to win a Gold Glove.”
Markakis, coming off his first All-Star season, won his first Gold Glove since 2014 and third overall. The soon-to-be 35-year-old is a free agent.
The last major league team to have two Gold Glove outfielders in the same season was the 2014 Orioles with Markakis and Adam Jones. It’s the second time in franchise history the Braves have had two outfielders win in the same season after Jones and Jeff Francoeur both won in 2007.
The Braves had an MLBhigh-tying five Gold Glove finalists. Left fielder Adam Duvall and pitcher Julio Teheran were also among the top three at their position.