Excited;Five Blue Jays named Gold Glove finalists”

Alejandro Kirk was named a finalist for the first time. Both Daulton Varsho and former Blue Jays catcher Gabriel Moreno were also nominated

As many as five players could win trophies next month, but the Blue Jays ended the 2023 season without any team success.

The American League Gold Glove Awards honour the best defensive player at each position, and Kevin Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho, Matt Chapman, Alejandro Kirk, and José Berríos were chosen finalists.

On November 5, the winners will be revealed.

Kiermaier is no stranger to the trophy, having been a finalist six different seasons and the winner three times while with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays signed him to a one-year, $9 million (US) contract during the off-season. He led the AL in defensive runs saved (DRS) at centre field with 18. Julio Rodríguez of the Mariners and Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox are the other nominees.

Three Gold Gloves have also been awarded to Chapman; the most recent was in 2021. José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians and Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros will oppose him.

Varsho was a finalist in left field and placed second in the AL in DRS at that position. Austin Hays of Baltimore and Steven Kwan of Cleveland were also selected as finalists.

Berríos has been nominated three times, however he has never won the prize. He will face Pablo López and Sonny Grey, two Twins pitchers.

Kirk has never before been selected a finalist in his career. Jonah Heim of the Rangers and Adley Rutschman of the Orioles are the other nominees.

In addition, former Blue Jay catcher Gabriel Moreno—whom the team traded for Varsho last offseason—was chosen a National League finalist.

The most recent Gold Glove Award winner from Toronto is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who won the award while playing first base last season. This season, he was not included as a finalist.

Thirty MLB managers and six coaches from each team cast their votes for the Gold Glove award. The Society for American Baseball’s proprietary SABR Defensive Index is weighted in addition to those votes.