Altuve, Keuchel Win Rawlings Gold Glove Awards
Duo becomes first Astros teammates to win award since Bagwell, Biggio in 1994
HOUSTON, TX - Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. announced tonight that Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel have won American League Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. This marks Altuve's first career Gold Glove Award and Keuchel's second consecutive. Astros catcher Jason Castro was also a finalist for an AL Gold Glove, which was awarded to Royals catcher Salvador Perez.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award was created in 1957, and since then the award has served as the highest symbol of defensive excellence in Major League Baseball. The winners are determined by combining votes from Major League managers and coaches with a sabermetric component.
Altuve led all Major League second baseman this season in fielding percentage (.993), committing only five errors in his 669 total chances. His .993 fielding percentage was the highest ever produced by an Astros second baseman in a single season, surpassing the previous record of .992, set by Bill Doran in 1987. He finished his season strong and did not commit an error in his last 51 regular season games and five postseason games, while handling 234 total chances in that time frame.
In addition to his fine pitching in 2015 (20-8, 2.48 ERA, 232 IP), Keuchel led all American League pitchers in total chances (72) and assists (53), while ranking fourth among AL pitchers in putouts (18). He made just one error all season for a .986 fielding percentage, giving him two errors in 138 total chances over the last two seasons combined. Keuchel was one of only five AL pitchers to make one error or less while pitching 200 or more innings, joining R.A. Dickey, Sonny Gray, Corey Kluber and teammate Collin McHugh.
With Altuve winning the award, he is now just the second second baseman in franchise history to win a Gold Glove, and the ninth player, joining Keuchel (2014-15), OF Michael Bourn (2009-10), C Brad Ausmus (2001-02, 2006), 2B Craig Biggio (1994-97), 1B Jeff Bagwell (1994), OF Cesar Cedeno (1972-76), 3B Doug Rader (1970-74) and SS Roger Metzger (1973). Prior to this season, the last time the Astros had two teammates win Gold Gloves in the same season was in 1994, when Bagwell and Biggio took home the honors.
This announcement continues a busy award week, as BBWAA Award finalists were just announced tonight, while Silver Sluggers will be announced on Thursday. On Monday, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPAA) announced their 2015 awards, naming shortstop Carlos Correa the AL Most Outstanding Rookie, Keuchel the AL Most Outstanding Pitcher and honoring Altuve with the Always Game Award. A full list of offseason awards and recognitions involving 2015 Astros is below.
Jose Altuve
-MLBPA Players Choice Always Game Award
-AL Gold Glove winner, second base
Jason Castro
-AL Gold Glove finalist, catcher
Carlos Correa
-MLBPAA Players Choice Award for AL Most Outstanding Rookie
-BBWAA AL Rookie of the Year finalist
-The Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year
Dallas Keuchel
-MLBPAA Players Choice Award for AL Most Outstanding Pitcher
-BBWAA AL Cy Young finalist
-AL Gold Glove winner, pitcher
-The Fielding Bible Award, given to the best fielding pitcher in the Major Leagues
-The Starting Pitcher on the Sporting News AL All-Star Team
A.J. Hinch
-BBWAA AL Manager of the Year finalist
-ASTROS-