ANAHEIM -- Andrelton Simmons extended his reign as the American League's premier defensive shortstop on Sunday night, winning his second consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award with the Angels.
Simmons was selected over fellow finalists Francisco Lindor of the Indians and Marcus Semien of the A's for his fourth career Gold Glove. Simmons won his first two in the National League with the Braves from 2013-14. Simmons joins Omar Vizquel as the only shortstops to capture multiple Gold Gloves in both leagues.
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Michael Trout, who prioritized improving his defense this past season, fell short in his quest to win his first career Gold Glove, as the Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr. came away with the prize for AL center fielders. Kole Calhoun, a 2016 Gold Glove winner, was among the finalists for AL right fielders, but he was edged out by the Red Sox's Mookie Betts.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler and catcher Martin Maldonado, both of whom were traded by the Angels in July, were also finalists at their respective positions. Kinsler bested the A's Jed Lowrie and the Rangers' Rougned Odor for his second career Gold Glove, but Royals catcher Salvador Perez beat out Maldonado.
The winners are determined by a combination of votes from AL managers and coaches, who cannot vote for their own players, and a sabermetric index provided by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), which makes up 25 percent of the calculation.
Simmons' 21 Defensive Runs Saved led all AL shortstops in 2018 and were tied for second in the Majors, behind only A's third baseman and fellow Gold Glove winner Matt Chapman (29). Up until the final week of July, the Angels' middle infield was comprised of Simmons and Kinsler, who helped the club turn an MLB-best 420 double plays in 2018.
The Angels are the first AL team to feature both middle-infield Gold Glove winners since the 2010 Yankees, who had Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano as their double-play combination.
Angels notes
• The Angels announced Sunday that right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne has elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake. Despaigne, 31, posted an 8.20 ERA over 18 2/3 innings after being acquired from the Marlins in August.