The Philadelphia Phillies had four players that are finalists for the 2023 Gold Glove Awards. Winners will be revealed on ESPN’s, “Baseball Tonight” on Sunday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Let’s look at the four finalists for the awards from the Phillies.
Zack Wheeler
Phillies’ Ace Looking to Win First Gold Glove
Zack Wheeler had a solid year as the Phillies top starter. He pitched 192 innings with 212 strikeouts, 1.08 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and had a 13-6 record in 32 starts during the regular season. He has been reliable in his role during the Phillies postseason run.
Wheeler has developed the reputation of a dominant starter. He is capable of pitching up to 7 innings during a start as he demonstrated during the regular season. The veteran has pitched six innings or more in his four starts during the 2023 playoffs. Opposing hitters have difficulty getting hits off of him as he can accumulate strikeouts in bunches.
If the Phillies win the World Series, Wheeler will have played a significant role in the club’s success. He has put Philadelphia in a good spot to win the playoff contests he has started. While their hitters and relievers may deal with bouts of inconsistency during the postseason, Wheeler appears to be the exception to that. Fans of the team can maintain confidence in his ability to pitch well whenever he is on the mound.
Wheels 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Zo4NEijpA
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 17, 2023
J.T. Realmuto
The Philadelphia Catcher Has Previously Won Two Gold Gloves
J.T. Realmuto has maintained his status as one of the premier defensive players at his position this season. The veteran catcher received his first Gold Glove Award in 2019 following his first season with Philadelphia. He most recently won a Gold Glove following the 2022 season.
Realmuto frequently demonstrates his value to the Phillies defensively. He led all catchers with 133 complete games defensively and with 1,190 putouts at the position. The 32-year-old finished tied for third with eight double plays turned among players at his position. Following Philadelphia’s acquisition of him during the offseason before the 2019 season, he has lived up to his reputation as arguably the best defensive catcher in baseball.
GOODBYE BALL pic.twitter.com/zldXFA14Ml
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 22, 2023
The last catcher in the National League to win consecutive Gold Gloves was Yadier Molina. The elite catcher won nine including eight consecutively during his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Realmuto faces good competition from the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno and Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants for the award.
Bryson Stott
The Young Infielder Continues to Excel in His Second-Year
For a good portion of the regular season, second baseman Bryson Stott was the Phillies’ best overall player in terms of how consistently he played offensively and defensively. He struggled at the plate during September and has been inconsistent in hitting during the postseason. Before Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, his stat line in the playoffs is .237/.302/.316. However, he had a good year overall which culminated in his first Gold Glove Award nomination.
He finished the regular season with a .280/.329/.419 stat line and emerged as one of the league’s better hitters with two strikes against him during an at-bat. The 26-year-old hit a key grand slam that helped clinch the Wild-Card series for Philadelphia over the Miami Marlins. Stott has become a key player for the Phillies in only his second season, which is an encouraging sign for the organization.
STOTTY pic.twitter.com/hGimiv6v6r
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 22, 2023
Stott has yet to reach the prime of his career and is a candidate to win his first Gold Glove Award. He ranks in the league’s top 10 in Outs Above Average (OAA) with a +16 regardless of position. He finished third among second basemen with a +17 in the category. He has demonstrated remarkable talent in only his second major league season.
Taijuan Walker
The 31-Year-Old is a Gold Glove Award Finalist in his First Season With Philadelphia
Taijuan Walker joins Wheeler as another Phillies pitcher who represents the organization as a finalist for the Gold Glove Awards. If the Shreveport, Louisiana, native wins, he would become the first Philadelphia pitcher to receive the award since Steve Carlton in 1981.
Walker achieved a new career-high in innings pitched this year with 172.2. He won 15 games and made 31 starts, which were both career-highs for the right-hander as well. Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried’s injury-plagued season created an opportunity for Walker, Wheeler or the Marlins’ Jesus Luzardo to win the award. Fried won a Gold Glove from 2020-2022.
The Phillies players have their eye on a much bigger prize at the moment – winning the World Series. The organization looks like they are capable of winning a championship in 2023. The four finalists for the Gold Glove Awards have done their part individually during the regular season to put them in a position for playoff success.
Main Photo Credits: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
