Doyle takes home Gold Glove in rookie year

DENVER -- Rockies rookie Brenton Doyle says he’s not much on statistics. But in 2023, whether the measure was taken by advanced statistics, Statcast readings or merely gauging the width of his smile after bigger plays, Doyle’s performance was deserving of the National League Gold Glove Award for center fielders, which was announced on Sunday night.

Doyle, 25, was one of two rookie winners (along with Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe) for this year’s coveted fielding award, which was created in 1957.

• Gold Glove Awards history

The visuals are eye-popping enough that Doyle is deserving of the honor, even before studying the calculations. As for Doyle, he’s too busy making plays to calculate.

“I’ve not really been a stats guy -- it’s always just a go-all-out kind of deal and the stats will come,” Doyle said.

• Rookies who have won Gold Glove honors

Still, the numbers are staggering, especially given the history of players who have dared to cover center at Coors Field. Center field is expansive, and the penchant for baseballs to carry differently than they do in other places means greater distances at higher speed -- with more potential for wall collisions.

According to Sports Info Systems, Doyle led all of MLB with a 24.5 Ultimate Zone Rating -- more than 10 points higher than the next closest player, the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. (13.8 UZR), and almost five times higher than the next closest center fielder, the Braves’ Michael Harris II (5.2 UZR).

Doyle’s 19 defensive runs saved in 1,023 2/3 innings ranked fourth among all position players, led center fielders and was by far the highest in club history. The previous high for DRS by a Rockies center fielder (since 2002) was 6 by Tyler Colvin in 2012, over 274 1/3 innings. The high for a Rockies center fielder with more than 500 innings was 2, by Cory Sullivan in 841 innings in 2006.

According to Statcast, Doyle finished with 16 outs above average -- highest for any outfielder by three and tied for sixth-highest among all defenders.

Frankly, the numbers tell a striking story. But watch his favorite plays -- and for some of the catches, stick around for the smiles at the end.

June 14 at Fenway Park, diving catch against Pablo Reyes

“My diving catch in Fenway was one of my favorites,” Doyle said. “Fenway was my favorite place to play this year -- just the history and the fan atmosphere and always wanting to play there.

“For the rest of the game, I had a little fan favorite reaction.”

Sept. 19 at Petco Park, diving catch to rob former teammate Jurickson Profar

As was often the case in the Rockies’ 2023 season, happy times -- in this case, pitcher Ryan Feltner’s return from a skull fracture -- were overshadowed by the final result, a 2-0 loss in this case.

Still …

“Feltner came back and threw a gem that game,” Doyle said. “And me getting that catch on Profar -- he was one of my favorite guys to play with this year. I hated to do it to him, but that was a pretty big catch in a big moment. It saved a run.”

July 7 at Oracle Park, strong throw home to complete double play

“I always loved the double plays, like the one in San Francisco,” Doyle said, before admitting he couldn’t place the others. We can do that for him.

On May 10, Doyle uncorked a 98.1 mph throw to erase the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds at the plate and keep the score tied in a game the Rockies won.

And on Aug. 11 at Dodger Stadium, Doyle grabbed James Outman’s fly in deep center and skipped an accurate throw off the slope of the mound to prevent the speedy Amed Rosario from scoring.

All the sparkling plays may run together for Doyle. But two that aren’t on his list occurred in the same game -- and just may serve as warnings to opponents to avoid testing his arm.

Sept. 2 at Coors Field, Statcast-worthy throws vs. Blue Jays

Santiago Espinal extended Toronto’s first-inning lead with a two-run single, but Doyle claimed the bouncing ball and erased Daulton Varsho at third with a 100.9 mph dart to prevent more damage.

Of course, the game turned into the type that makes Coors Field infamous -- the Jays’ early 4-0 lead became an 8-6 deficit in the ninth. Toronto had Davis Schneider at third when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined one to Doyle. Blue Jays third-base coach Luis Rivera ordered Schneider to stay.

Good thing for the Jays. Doyle uncorked the hardest throw since Statcast began calculations: 105.7 mph.

“I’m just trying to make controlled, accurate throws,” Doyle said. “I never really got feedback on velocity of my throws in the Minors. But I always trained to keep my arm strength up -- even increase it -- and some of it was getting radar-gun readings.

“So I was always aware I had a pretty good arm. But 105 even caught me by surprise. It was really cool.”