Corey Seager, Marcus Semien Among Five Texas Rangers Selected as Gold Glove Finalists

The Texas Rangers has the best defense in the American League and were rewarded with five Gold Glove finalists.
Corey Seager, Marcus Semien Among Five Texas Rangers Selected as Gold Glove Finalists
Corey Seager, Marcus Semien Among Five Texas Rangers Selected as Gold Glove Finalists /
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The Texas Rangers had one of the best defenses in baseball this season and on Wednesday they learned that five of their players were named finalists for the Gold Glove award.

The finalists were catcher Jonah Heim, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Adolis García.

"Obviously really exciting," Seager said. "I guess anytime you can be considered for any award, it's an accomplishment. Super happy about it. Trying not to focus too much time on it obviously because we're in the playoffs. But really special honor for sure, and it will be something I'll think about later."

The Rangers are playing the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series. Texas leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 with a trip to the World Series on the line after an 8-5 loss Wednesday night at Globe Life Field.

Corey Seager is one of five Rangers up for a Gold Glove award / © Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The Gold Glove winners will be announced next month.

As a team, the Rangers were tied for the best fielding percentage (.990) in baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are facing the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. 

Heim threw out a career-high 22-of-80 base stealers, and the 27.5 percent rate was the best among American League catchers and second only to Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno. Heim also had 10 catcher-framing runs, which was third-best in baseball.

Lowe prioritized getting better as a defender in 2023 and it resulted in a career-best .9977 fielding percentage in 161 games, second-best among AL first baseman to Seattle’s Ty France, who is not a finalist. Lowe’s fielding percentage was third-best in franchise history behind Mitch Moreland in 2016 (.9981) and Mark Teixeira in 2005 (.9979)

Semien, a Gold Glove finalist last year, had a .991 fielding pct. which ranked fourth-best among AL second basemen. He played an MLB-high 1406 1/3 innings at second, setting the single-season club record for innings at the position.

Seager only started 112 games at shortstop, but had a career-best 981 fielding percentage, ranked second among AL second basemen to Minnesota’s Carlos Correa (.987). Seager had a career-best 50-game errorless streak from June 23 to Sept. 3

García's team-leading 11 outfield assists tied him for third in the AL behind Boston’s Alex Verdugo and Seattle’s Teoscar Hernández, both with 12. García's had 10 or more outfield assists for the third straight season, the third-longest streak for an outfielder in club history.

García also ranked third among qualified MLB right fielders in both Defensive Runs Saved (seven).

Rawlings Gold Glove Finalists

American League

Pitcher: Jose Berrios, Toronto; Pablo Lopez, Minnesota; Sonny Gray, Minnesota. Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Baltimore; Jonah Heim, Texas; Alejandro Kirk, Toronto. First Base: Anthony Rizzo, NY Yankees; Nathaniel Lowe, Texas; Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore. Second Base: Mauricio Dubon, Houston; Marcus Semien, Texas; Andrew Gimenez, Cleveland. Third Base: Matt Chapman, Toronto; Jose Ramirez, Cleveland; Alex Bregman, Houston. Shortstop: Anthony Volpe, NY Yankees; Corey Seager, Texas; Carlos Correa, Minnesota. Left Field: Austin Hays, Baltimore; Daulton Varsho, Toronto; Steven Kwan, Cleveland. Center Field: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle; Kevin Kiermaier, Toronto; Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox. Right Field: Kyle Tucker, Houston; Adolis Garcia, Texas; Alex Vergudo, Boston. Utility: Mauricio Dubon, Houston; Zach McKinstry, Detroit; Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay.

National League

Pitcher: Jesus Luzardo, Miami; Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia; Taijuan Walker, Philadelphia. Catcher: Patrick Bailey, San Francisco; Gabriel Moreno, Arizona; J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia. First Base: Carlos Santana, Milwaukee; Freddie Freeman, LA Dodgers; Christian Walker, Arizona. Second Base: Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego; Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs; Bryson Stott, Philadelphia. Third Base: Austin Riley, Atlanta; Ryan McMahon, Colorado; Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh. Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, NY Mets; Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs; Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado. Left Field: Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs; David Peralta, LA Dodgers; Eddie Rosario, Atlanta. Center Field: Brenton Doyle, Colorado; Michael Harris II, Atlanta; Alek Thomas, Arizona. Right Field: Mookie Betts, LA Dodgers; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego; Lane Thomas, Washington. Utility: Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego; Tommy Edman, St. Louis; Mookie Betts, LA Dodgers.

Scherzer Can't Deliver for Rangers

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.