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Examining Gold Glove Case for Jared Triolo

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Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jared Triolo is the lone Pittsburgh Pirates’ player up for a 2024 Gold Glove. Triolo was named a National League finalist as a utility player by Rawlings Baseball on Tuesday.



Triolo is one of three finalists alongside the St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and Kiké Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The utilityman Gold Glove is new as it was first handed out in 2022, when Donovan became the first player to win it in the NL. Ha-Seong Kim (San Diego Padres) was the winner last year.

Traditionally, Gold Glove winners are determined by votes from managers, coaches and players and the SABR defensive index with votes accounting for three-fourths of the weight. But for the utility award, Rawlings teamed with SABR to create a defensive formula.

Looking at the statistics for all three players, a case could certainly be made that Triolo should hear his name when winners are announced on Nov 3.

Jared Triolo

  • Positions played: third base (61 games), second base (47 games), shortstop (nine games), first base (nine games), right field (one game)
  • Total defensive runs saved: 7
  • Total outs above average: 3
  • Fielding percentage: .992

Brendan Donovan

  • Positions played: left field (105 games), second base (53 games), third base (nine games), right field (one game)
  • Total defensive runs saved: 0
  • Total outs above average: 6
  • Fielding percentage: .995

Kiké Hernández

  • Positions played: third base (71 games), first base (18 games), left field (15 games), center field (11 games), second base (10 games), shortstop (nine games), pitcher (four games)
  • Total defensive runs saved: 5
  • Total outs above average: 1
  • Fielding percentage: .967

Triolo has the edge in defensive runs saved over both of his fellow finalists. Donovan, meanwhile, is out in front in outs above average, fielding percentage and games played over both Triolo and Hernández .

Working in Triolo’s favor, however, is the fact that the vast majority of his defensive worked came as an infielder, which is more demanding than roaming the outfield grass.

Looking at the more traditional statistics such as fielding percentage, Triolo’s .995 fielding percentage was tied with Donovan for the second-best among second basemen with at least 350 innings played at the position. But his .985 fielding percentage as a third baseman was second in the league behind the Orioles’ Jordan Westburg (.986).

Six of Triolo’s defensive runs saved came at second base. Among National League players under the same qualifications, that mark is good for fifth-best. despite logging significantly less innings than regulars at second base.

Prediction

This feels like it will be a two-horse race between Triolo and Donovan as a case can be made for either player. But given Triolo’s substantial advantage in defensive runs saved and the fact that he worked almost exclusively as an infielder, I’ll give him the edge.

If Triolo were to take home the utility Gold Glove, he would give the Pirates their second-straight winner after third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes won the first of his career last year.

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