November 4th 2024.
Brenton Doyle's glove has become quite the reputation in center field as the place where balls go to die. It's no surprise then that he was just awarded his second consecutive National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Sunday. His impressive defensive skills have earned him this prestigious honor, making him the seventh player in Colorado history to win multiple Gold Gloves. Last year, he made history as the first NL rookie outfielder to receive the award, and now he's done it again in his second year.
At 26 years old, Doyle is also the first outfielder in NL history, and only the third outfielder ever, to win a Gold Glove in each of his first two seasons. This puts him in the ranks of Cleveland's Steven Kwan and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who also accomplished this feat. It's clear that Doyle is a force to be reckoned with on the field.
But he's not the only Rockies player to be recognized for his defensive prowess. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has also received his first NL Gold Glove Award after being a finalist for the past two years. And while third baseman Ryan McMahon was a finalist for the fourth consecutive year, he ultimately lost to Matt Chapman of the Giants, who earned his fifth Gold Glove.
Doyle's rookie season was a standout performance, solidifying his spot as the best center fielder in the NL. And he didn't slow down in his second year, making incredible plays and effortlessly taking away hits from opposing teams. Whether it was on the spacious Coors Field or on the road, Doyle's consistency, range, and flash caught the attention of voters, ultimately earning him the Gold Glove over the Nationals' Jacob Young and the Brewers' Blake Perkins.
Advanced statistics only further prove Doyle's defensive dominance. He led all MLB center fielders with an impressive 11.4 ultimate zone rating, which measures how many runs a player has saved defensively. He was far ahead of the second-best NL center fielder, Jackson Merrill of the Padres, who had a 7.2 UZR. Doyle also ranked first in range runs above average, which calculates how often a fielder can get to balls in their vicinity, with a score of 11.7. And he was in the top three compared to his peers in several other sabermetrics, including outs above average, fielding run value, and defensive runs saved.
It's no wonder that Doyle also led all MLB center fielders in "good fielding plays," a term used by Sports Info Solutions to describe web-gem level catches. This led to his first Fielding Bible Award on October 24, after being the runner-up last year. He is clearly a well-rounded and talented player, excelling both offensively and defensively.
But while Doyle's hitting improved in 2024 with a .260/.317/.446 slash line and 23 home runs, his glove remained at an elite level. This was evident in plays like his full-extension, sprawling catch against the Dodgers in June, robbing Shohei Ohtani of a would-be extra-base hit. And in a game against the White Sox in July, Doyle made a diving grab in shallow center field to prevent a walk-off hit, ultimately leading the Rockies to a win in 14 innings.
Doyle's web gems continued throughout the season, even when the Rockies were out of contention. In August, he made a diving catch at Coors Field, then quickly threw out a runner trying to advance to third base. And he also had two impressive home run robberies, one against the Padres' Jurickson Profar and another against the Cubs' Ian Happ, effortlessly catching a ball at the center field wall.
It's clear that Doyle is a valuable asset to the Rockies, both on and off the field. His impressive defensive skills have earned him multiple awards and have solidified his place as one of the best center fielders in the league. Fans can only hope to see more of his incredible plays in the seasons to come. But for now, they can enjoy the Rockies Insider for all the latest news and analysis on their favorite team.
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