Former SF Giants utilityman named a finalist for AL Gold Glove Award at two positions

Former SF Giants utilityman Mauricio Dubón was named a 2023 American League Gold Glove finalist at two different positions.

Former SF Giants utilityman Mauricio Dubón was named among three finalists for the 2023 American League Gold Glove at second base and utility. The other finalists at second base were Andrés Giménez (Guardians) and Marcus Semien (Rangers). The other finalists at utility were Zach McKinstry (Tigers) and Taylor Walls (Rays). Dubón was the only player in the American League to be a finalist at multiple positions.

Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubón scores a run against Atlanta. (2023) / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Dubón has become an integral piece of the Houston Astros position player group over the past two seasons since they acquired him in a trade with the Giants last year for minor league catcher Michael Papierski. Dubón, who is the second player born in Honduras to appear in an MLB game, is a first-time finalist.

After several trades early in his career, Dubón seems to have finally found stability in Houston. He has was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 28th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of a Sacramento area high school. A few years later, he was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade.  He had a short big-league cameo with Milwaukee, but was traded to San Francisco at the 2019 deadline for pitchers Ray Black and Drew Pomeranz.

A .258/..296/.384 hitter for his career thus far, Dubón went .278/.309/.411 across 492 plate appearances during the 2023 season. His 26 doubles, three triples, and 10 home runs during 2023 are all career highs. He is a right-handed hitter with an approach oriented around making contact at a high rate and spraying the ball to all fields. In an era where three true outcomes hitters are becoming more and more common, he is a throwback slash and dash guy.

Dubón being a finalist at second base for the award was a bit puzzling since he played fewer than 80 games at the position. It's especially strange since a Gold Glove Award for utility players was introduced during the 2022 season and is a more obvious fit for him. However, the lack of standout defensive second basemen in the American League gave him a path to a finalist.

In 79 defensive appearances at second during 2023, he was fourth in Defensive Runs Saved and 13th in Ulitmate Zone Rating amongst 26 2Bs in the AL with at least 300 defensive innings. Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average metric has him classified as around average as a defender at second, showing effectiveness going to his right but struggling going to his left and on balls in play going back. Still, he was also an excellent defender in center field. He seems like the favorite to win a Gold Glove for the utility spot but may have an uphill battle at second base.