Tex, Didi, Gardner up for Gold Glove Awards
NEW YORK -- The Yankees' Mark Teixeira, Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner were named as finalists for 2015 Rawlings American League Gold Glove Awards at their respective positions on Thursday.
Teixeira is competing with the Royals' Eric Hosmer and the Rangers' Mike Napoli at first base, seeking his sixth career Gold Glove and first since 2012. An All-Star for the third time this year, Teixeira recorded a career-best 109-game errorless streak from July 10, 2014 to June 10, 2015.
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According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Teixeira now owns the second-longest errorless streak in Yankees history; Don Mattingly had a 155-game streak in 1984-85. Teixeira played 108 games at first base in 2015, committing just three errors (two fielding, one throwing) in 913 2/3 innings.
It would be a first Gold Glove for Gregorius, who is contending against Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox and Alcides Escobar of the Royals. The 26-year-old improved greatly after a slow start to his first season in pinstripes; Gregorius committed nine of his 13 errors in the first 63 games of the season.
Video: BAL@NYY: Gregorius throws out Flaherty at the plate
According to FanGraphs, Gregorius ranked as the fourth-most valuable fielder in the AL and ninth-most valuable fielder in the Majors across all positions according to defensive metrics, posting 14.6 defensive runs saved above average. Only three of his errors were throwing miscues.
Gardner will look to edge Yoenis Cespedes, who qualifies for the AL award in left field because he began the year with the Tigers, and the Royals' Alex Gordon.
Video: MIN@NYY: Gardner slams into wall for a superb catch
The 32-year-old Gardner, an All-Star for the first time in '15, committed just two errors (.993 fielding percentage) in 159 games spanning 1,264 2/3 outfield innings this year.
Winners will be announced on Nov. 10.