The Yankees’ rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe made history this week as the first rookie in Yankees’ history to earn a Gold Glove award for his fielding performance during the 2023 season. In addition to being the first rookie in Yankees’ history to receive the esteemed accolades, he has also became the youngest shortstop in MLB history to earn the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
What is the Rawlings Gold Glove Award?
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award is awarded to an individual from each fielding position in both the American League and the National League who has displayed superior athletic excellence through their fielding performance.
Award finalists are determined by a voting process made up of managers and coaches in each league. Managers and coaches are not allowed to vote for players from their own team. Additionally, a sabermetric component provided by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) accounts for about 25 percent of the vote.
Who is ‘the kid from Jersey’?
Anthony Volpe is a 22-year old Jersey native who grew up spending a lot of time in the Bronx studying his favorite players, like Derek Jeter, and ultimately modeling himself after the Captain. At the age of 21, in 2023, the Delbarton High School alum became the youngest Yankee to debut in the Opening Day lineup since Mickey Mantle in 1951. He earned his spot as the Yankees’ 2023 starting shortstop after beating out teammates Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza during the spring training campaign.
It was probably the most fun day of my entire life,'' Volpe said at the time. I probably had goosebumps the whole day.
Volpe is the first Yankees rookie to win a Gold Glove and just the 16th rookie of all-time to have won a Gold Glove. Although he tallied 17 errors, he makes up for it with his calm and mature demeanor in the field and by being instinctually a very sound player.
In addition to his fielding performance, he also made history as the first rookie in franchise history to achieve 20-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases, which is remarkable in itself.
The GG magic rubbing off from one golden SS to another. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/TUQs6Wo2vu
— JP_YankeesGirl (@90syankskid) November 6, 2023
How did the ‘kid from Jersey’ beat out the World Series MVP?
A lot of naysayers question how Volpe earned the award, particularly over veteran finalists Carlos Correa of the Twins and Corey Seager of the Rangers who earned his second World Series MVP this year, and while the veterans edged Volpe in errors and fielding percentage over fewer innings, Volpe tipped the scale in overall performance volume finishing second among all AL shortstops in both Putouts (186) and Assists (357). In 150 starts at shortstop, Volpe played 1,346 2/3 innings in the field, handling 560 total chances while committing just 17 errors, for a .970 fielding percentage.
Additionally, Volpe finished second among all AL shortstops with 15 Defensive Runs Saved, and tied for sixth with one Out Above Average.
- Yankees off to the hottest start since 2003, sweep Astros 4-0 in season opener - April 1, 2024
- Yankees' full-squad Spring Training officially underway - February 20, 2024
- Why the Yankees’ rotation may not be complete just yet - February 17, 2024
