Pittsburgh Pirates: 3 Bucs named finalist for Gold Glove Award
By Matt Shetler
The awards may not be done coming in for the Pittsburgh Pirates after their successful 2013 season.
After a 94-win regular season, Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte along with catcher Russell Martin were named National League Gold Glove finalists on Friday.
Sep 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts to a standing ovation after being removed from the game against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Reds won 11-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
McCutchen, who won his first Gold Glove last season, improved drastically as a center fielder in 2013. In addition to having some of the most range as any center in the NL, improved his throwing a great deal this season, which could have been considered one of his few weak points before the season. He did so by setting a career-high with 11 outfield assists.
Cutch made six errors on the season, up from the one he made in 2012, but his .982 fielding percentage should give him a solid chance to repeat as a Gold Glove winner.
Similar to McCutchen, Marte has outstanding range in left field as the duo provide the Bucs with perhaps the most athletic outfield in the league. With his cannon for an arm, Marte racked up six assists and a .966 fielding percentage in his first full major league season.
As for Martin, he proved to be a difference maker defensively for the Bucs.
Martin led the National League in throwing out 36 attempting base stealers and also received high marks for his pitching framing and sequencing. He is looking for his second Gold Glove, also winning the award in 2007 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Pirates ranked fourth in the NL in defensive efficiency, so it would be a bit surprising if they didn’t come away with at least one Gold Glove winner.
Clint Hurdle has already been named Manager of the Year and Francisco Liriano has been named Comeback Player of the Year as the Bucs look to continue gathering postseason hardware.