The fourth-annual Rawlings Platinum Glove Awards were announced last night, recognizing the best defensive player in each league. Royals left fielder Alex Gordon took home the honors for the American League while Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina won the award for the National League.
Only those won the 2014 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were eligible for the Platinum Glove Award. The winners were determined by a combination of a fan vote and SABR’s Defensive Index metric.
Mark Newman of MLB.com writes that Gordon finished with 21.6 percent of the vote in the AL, topping teammate Salvador Perez (15.9 percent) and Dustin Pedroia (13.2 percent). Things were a bit closer in the National League, as Molina got 20.6 percent vote, just ahead of Mets center fielder Juan Lagares (17.7 percent), and Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons (15.5).
This is Molina’s third Platinum Glove Award in the four-year history of the award. Simmons won for the National League last year.