Were Texas Rangers Middle Infielders Marcus Semien, Corey Seager Gold Glove Snubs?

The Texas Rangers had the best defense in baseball, but the double-play combination of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager weren't among the club's Gold Glove winners.

The Texas Rangers tied for the best fielding percentage in baseball in 2023. Their .990 fielding percentage as a team was matched only by the Arizona Diamondback, who the Rangers beat in the World Series.

Texas also committed the second-fewest errors in baseball with 57. The only team better than them was Arizona with 56.

So, with five finalists for Gold Gloves, it would stand to reason that all five would have a decent chance to win the award at their respective positions.

Well, on Sunday, three of them did — first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, catcher Jonah Heim and right fielder Adolis García.

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien were two of five Rangers' finalists for Gold Gloves, but neither won / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The other two are well-respected veterans — second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager. Neither won.

Were they snubbed?

Semien was a finalist last year. In fact he was the Rangers’ only finalist in 2022. Last year, Cleveland’s Andrés Giménez won the award. Giménez beat out Semien again this year.

Semien had another fine season in the field. He had a .991 fielding percentage. which ranked fourth-best among AL second basemen. He played an MLB-high 1406 1/3 innings at second base, setting the single-season club record for innings at the position.

Semien also had 15 defensive outs above average, which was 11th among all fielders at any position. But it put him fifth at the position among all second basemen.

But it might be hard to argue that Semien was snubbed. Giménez had the same fielding percentage as Semien — .991 — but led AL second basemen with 18 outs above average and 23 defensive runs saved. He was third in OAA among all players.

As for Seager, New York Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe won the award.

While Seager’s reputation is wrapped more around his bat than his glove, he had a career-best .981 fielding percentage, which was second-best among AL second basemen to Minnesota’s Carlos Correa (.987), who was also a finalist.

Seager also had a career-best 50-game errorless streak from June 23 to Sept. 3.

Volpe, meanwhile, had a .970 fielding percentage. He committed 17 errors to Seager’s eight, though Volpe handled 560 chances to Seager’s 423 due to the latter’s injuries.

If you’re into advanced metrics. Seager, Correa and Volpe have the same OAA — one.

Seager has a much stronger case for being snubbed. For that matter, so does Correa.

In the end, Semien and Seager will have to wait another year for win their first Gold Gloves as Rangers.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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