Perrotto: Campaign Manager Not a Job for Ke’Bryan Hayes (+)

BRADENTON, Fla. — For years, the theory has been posited that a good defensive player needs to hit enough for Gold Glove voters to notice.

The thinking goes that defensive-first players tend to get overlooked. After all, defensive statistics aren’t put on the scoreboard or the back of baseball calls.

However, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton believes the baseball world has changed in that regard. He feels the rise of defensive metrics over the past 10-15 years means that teams place more emphasis on good fielding than ever before.

Thus, Shelton does not believe Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes fell short of winning a National League Gold Glove in 2022 because he had a subpar season at the plate.