LOOK: Andres Gimenez, Steven Kwan Receive Gold Glove Awards

Cleveland Guardians: Andres Gimenez and Steven Kwan collect their 2023 Gold Glove trophies.

Apr 21, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) and shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) celebrate after the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Guardians have gained a reputation as being one of the strongest defensive teams in the game of baseball. The two players leading thr charge on this front are second baseman Andres Gimenez and left fielder Steven Kwan.

Both of these players won the 2023 Gold Glove for respected positions and Gimenez even won a Platinum Glove for his elite level defense. While the Rawlings announced the winners last fall, the players didn’t receive their trophies until Saturday at Progressive Field.

Take a look at each of the holding up the hardware.

Andrés Giménez receives his 2023 Platinum and Gold Glove Award and Steven Kwan also takes home the 2023 Gold Glove Award!#ForTheLand | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/RpLx4dQPMM

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 13, 2024

Each player was given a roaring ovation by the Guardians fans in attendance. 

This is Kwan’s second Gold Glove in just two years in baseball. Defense was one of the main reasons he found a spot with the team and that’s carried over ever since making the transition to the Major Leagues. He was ranked in the 94th percentile in Outs Above Average and 74th percentile in arm strength (per Baseball Savant) for the 2023 season. 

Apr 21, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) and shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) celebrate after the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Like Kwan, this is also Gimenez’s second Gold Glove. However, it is the second baseman’s first Platinum Glove. Gimenez continues to make plays that are difficult and look like normal routine ground balls that any player should be able to grab.

For as good as Gimenez has been at second, shortstop is his natural position and time will tell whether or not the Guardians decide to shift him to the other side of the infield.