Carlos Santana is one step closer to fulfilling a promise he made to his mother before the 2024 season.
The Twins’ veteran first baseman was named a Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist for the second straight year. In addition to Santana, Twins utilityman Willi Castro was named a finalist, as well, in a utility category that was created three years ago.
Neither Santana, 38, nor Castro, 27, has ever won a Gold Glove.
Before the season began, Santana, who wore a pink glove this year to honor his mother, said she asked him what he still wanted to accomplish before he retired. He responded by telling her he would like to be rewarded for his defense and take home a Gold Glove Award.
“This is what I want,” he said in September. “This is what I promised to my mom. I want to win. If I win and they told me, it’s the most new positive (thing) here in my life.”
Santana seemingly has a great chance of winning the award, finishing first among all first basemen with 14 Outs Above Average. His eight Defensive Runs Saved led all American League first basemen.
Nathaniel Lowe of the Texas Rangers and Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles are the other two finalists at the position. Castro joins Mauricio Dubón (Astros) and Dylan Moore (Mariners) as the utility finalists.
The versatile Castro made history this season becoming the only player in Major League Baseball history to play in at least 25 games at five different positions (2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF).
Castro, who played in a team-leading 158 games, filled in at third base when Royce Lewis got hurt, at shortstop when Carlos Correa landed on the injured list and center field when Byron Buxton went down early. He finished the year with 40 games at second base, 37 at third, 56 at short, 34 in left field and 30 in center.
Often, he appeared at multiple positions within a game, allowing manager Rocco Baldelli the flexibility to make the in-game moves he desired.
The finalists were determined by voting from managers and coaches in concert with the SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) Defensive Index, which makes up 25 percent of the selection.
The winners will be announced on Nov. 3 during a special “Baseball Tonight” show on ESPN that will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Twins have not had a Gold Glove winner Buxton (CF) and Brian Dozier (2B) won in 2017.
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