Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins first-ever Gold Glove award at 1B
Posted November 1, 2022 5:28 pm.
Last Updated November 1, 2022 5:51 pm.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is golden for the first time in his young career.
The 23-year-old received a Gold Glove award for his work defensively at first base, major-league baseball announced on Tuesday. Since 1957, the Rawlings Gold Glove has honoured the best defenders at each position in each league.
Guerrero Jr. is the first player in Blue Jays history to receive a Gold Glove for his work at first base. Second baseman Marcus Semien won the award last season, while starting pitcher Marcus Stroman received a Gold Glove for his slick fielding in 2017.
Good as GOLD ????
Vladdy wins his FIRST #GoldGlove Award! pic.twitter.com/vwe6Zo4Ewv
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 1, 2022
Guerrero Jr. entered the majors as a third baseman but transitioned to first at the start of the 2020 season. He’s since been a mainstay at the position for Toronto, appearing in 128 games at first base in 2022.
Annual Gold Glove winners are determined from voting by MLB managers and coaches in each league.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider quickly congratulated Guerrero Jr. on the honour.
“I have watched you work for I don’t know how many years, but turning yourself into a Gold Glove first baseman is something you should be very proud of,” Schneider said in a video. “I get to see you work at it every single day. I am very, very happy for you, and hopefully, it’s the first of many.”
The Blue Jays had several players up for Gold Glove awards, including starting pitcher Jose Berrios, third baseman Matt Chapman, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (splitting time with Boston and Toronto) and utility player Whit Merrifield (splitting time with Kansas City and Toronto).
Guerrero Jr. is the only Blue Jays player to win the 2022 award. The Cleveland Guardians had three players — starting pitcher Shane Bieber, outfielder Steven Kwan and second baseman Andres Gimenez — win Gold Gloves this year.
Toronto’s talented first baseman finished the season hitting .274/.339/.480 with 32 home runs and 97 RBIs.
