Dodgers: Three Players Who Could Win a Gold Glove
By Hector Ponce
Yasmani Grandal
The 28-year-old is an underappreciated part of this Dodgers team. Not by the team but more so by the fans who do not really see his value. But Grandal is an essential component of this roster. He does lead the MLB in passed balls but makes up for it in other facets of the game.
One reason for his passed balls is that he continues to try and frame anything close which can lead to him missing balls. But with that said he is one of the best pitch framers in the big leagues. Helping out a pitching staff that doesn’t need help. This staff has had themselves quite the year, and part of that is thanks to his pitch framing.
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He has become one of the best pitch callers in the game. Leading the Dodgers to the best team ERA in baseball, the fewest amount of runs and hits allowed in the MLB and the highest strikeout numbers in the National League. Yes, it helps to have some of the best pitchers in baseball at your disposal, but Grandal is still pushing all the right buttons to get the best from them.
Yasmani is also top 5 in baserunners caught stealing with 20. Grandal leads all MLB catchers in DEF. He does have some flaws but the parts he does well at really shine, and he should definitely be in contention for the NL Gold Glove even with some of the other great defensive catchers in the league.
Four other Dodgers come to mind. Cody Bellinger, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe. Bellinger has the capability to win a Gold Glove someday but this season would be tough considering he did not play one set position. The same could be said about Taylor, he also had some minor setbacks in the outfield and has since ironed them out.
Turner is such a great defender, but the fact that Nolan Arenado also plays third makes it almost impossible to win the award in the NL. Logan Forsythe could have had a shot at the award had he remained healthy all season, he is a very good defender.