ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)— Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls has been named one of the three American League finalists for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
The shortstop is joining Texas’ Corey Seager and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr.
According to the Rays, Walls has only appeared in 101 games, but his 18 defensive runs saved were the third most among major league infielders.
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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls throws to first base for the out on Kansas City Royals’ Whit Merrifield during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) -
Kansas City Royals’ Nicky Lopez (8) steals second as Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls, left, catches the late throw during the third inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, July 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Walls has recorded 17 defensive runs saved at shortstop and tied Los Angeles-NL’s Mookie Betts for the most in the majors despite playing in 54 fewer games.
Walls has only five errors in 364 chances and has only made one error over his first 64 games and two in his first 83, the Rays said.
This is the second time Walls was named a Gold Glove finalist. He was a finalist as a utility player in 2023.
“Walls is attempting to become the first Rays middle infielder to win a Gold Glove,” the Rays said.
The club’s previous winners at other positions include center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, third baseman Evan Longoria, right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, left fielder Carl Crawford, and first baseman Carlos Peña, according to the Rays.
The Rawlings Gold Glove awards are awarded to the best individual fielding performance at each position in both the American and National Leagues since 1957.
Voting by league managers, coaches, and sabermetric statistics determines the winners.
The winners will be announced Sunday, Nov. 2, at 8:30 p.m.