Braves' Josh Donaldson and Ozzie Albies Named 2019 Gold Glove Finalists
By Parker White
The Atlanta Braves' 2019 season ended earlier than everyone thought, leaving a bad taste in their mouth, but that doesn't mean they won't be in the running for some hardware.
On an off day during the World Series, the finalists for the 2019 Gold Glove Awards were announced and two members of the Braves made the cut: second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Josh Donaldson.
Congratulations to @ozzie and @BringerOfRain20 for being named #GoldGlove Finalists! pic.twitter.com/1dRcDArepv
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 24, 2019
Albies joins Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals and Adam Frazier of the Pittsburgh Pirates as finalists for the award. Wong is the favorite with 14 defensive runs saved (DRS), but Albies comes in second in that category with a very respectable eight DRS.
NL 2019 Gold Glove finalists include two #Braves, Josh Donaldson & Ozzie Albies.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 24, 2019
No Freeman, Inciarte or Markakis, who won GG last season (Inciarte won 3 in a row)
3B: #Braves' Donaldson, Nats' Rendon, Rockies' Arenado.
2B: #Braves' Albies, Cardinals' Wong, Pirate' Frazier
Donaldson, who had an injury-plagued 2018 season and has never been thought of as a good defender, had a nice year defensively at the hot corner. He joins Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies and Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals as the finalists for the award.
It'll take a miracle to knock Arenado off the pedestal, but Donaldson led the NL with 15 defensive runs saved, giving him a real shot to pull off the upset.
Atlanta had three players come home with a Gold Glove last year, but neither Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis or Ender Inciarte were finalists in 2019.