ARLINGTON -- When Bruce Bochy took over as the Rangers’ skipper coming into the 2023 season, he emphasized the importance of defensive fundamentals.
“We go out and we acquire pitching, but it's critical that we work on this defense, and that has to show up every day,” Bochy said during the World Series. “The pitching is going to come and go at times, hitting will, too, but one thing we can do is focus on defense every day.”
That emphasis paid off, as three Rangers received Gold Glove Awards at their respective positions on Sunday night: catcher Jonah Heim, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and right fielder Adolis García. Shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien were finalists, but lost out to the Yankees’ Anthony Volpe and the Guardians’ Andrés Giménez, respectively.
Three Gold Glove Award winners is the most in a single season in Rangers franchise history.
Lowe was perhaps the biggest shock, as the first baseman dramatically improved his defense this season, beginning with a career-best .9977 fielding percentage. The advanced metrics backed up the eye test.
Lowe improved astronomically in outs above average (-11 in 2022, 5 in ‘23) and defensive runs saved (-9 in ‘22, 3 in ‘23). His ‘22 marks were last among all qualified first basemen in both metrics, while both were in the top five in ‘23.
Lowe is the fourth Ranger to win a Gold Glove at first base, joining Mitch Moreland (2016), Mark Teixeira (2005-06) and Rafael Palmeiro (1999).
“He put in a lot of work and into trying to improve in his defense,” infield coordinator Tony Beasley said of Lowe earlier in the season. “He was open to criticism and instruction. That's the credit to him for just being vulnerable about his defense. He told me going into spring, ‘I need to get better.’
“I think the relationship with us was huge because it's hard to coach someone if you can't get feedback. You have to be able to say what is needed from a constructive standpoint. You've got to tear something down before you can build it back up. So the bottom line is he knows I want him to get better, and he wants to get better. We have a common goal. We just both work towards it.”
Heim threw out a career-high 22 of 80 (27.5%) attempted basestealers, the highest caught-stealing percentage among AL catchers. Per Statcast, his 10 catcher framing runs ranked third in MLB behind the Giants’ Patrick Bailey (16) and teammate Austin Hedges (13).
Heim is the third Rangers catcher to win a Gold Glove, joining Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez (1992-2001) and Jim Sundberg (1976-81).
Catching coordinator Bobby Wilson emphasized all season that Heim has been a special part of this team’s success.
“Watching Jonah grow this year has been great,” pitching coach Mike Maddux added earlier in the postseason. “As it's come down to where he's caught every game now, he's getting better and better and better. He's getting more comfortable. Jonah has definitely learned, and he has stepped up his game and he's taken full responsibility back there. He is really engaged in every pitch we throw and really with the advanced stuff when we sit down every day. Jonah has been the unsung hero of this postseason run.”
García had a team-best 11 outfield assists this season, which was tied for third in the AL. It was his third straight season with 10-plus outfield assists. He ranked third among qualified MLB right fielders in defensive runs saved (seven).
García is the fourth Rangers outfielder to win a Gold Glove, joining Joey Gallo (2020-21), Gary Pettis (1990) and Juan Beniquez (1977).
“He's just a complete player,” Bochy said. “Speed, arm, can hit -- the guy can do it all. We saw it. And he's accurate, too, and he loves to throw. He loves to be challenged. And we've seen that quite a few times. He really enjoys that part of the game, and he works at it.”
“Defense and pitching wins,” Beasley said. “So we have to pitch well, and we have to execute and turn batted balls into outs. That's the formula for us.”