Arizona Diamondbacks’ first baseman Christian Walker and catcher Gabriel Moreno are 2023 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winners, the best defensive players at their respective positions as voted on by Major League Baseball managers and coaches, as announced by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. Since 2017, the D-backs’ 10 Gold Gloves are tied for second in the Majors with the Braves and Guardians, behind the Cardinals (11).
Walker, 32, earned his second straight Gold Glove at first base and became the D-backs’ fifth back-to-back winner along with OF Steve Finley in 1999-2000, 2B Orlando Hudson in 2006-07, RHP Zack Greinke in 2016-19 and SS Nick Ahmed in 2018-19.
Walker is the seventh D-back with multiple Gold Gloves along with 4-time winner RHP Zack Greinke (2016-19), 3-time honoree 1B Paul Goldschmidt (2013, ’15, ’17) and 2-time winners OF Steve Finley (1999-2000), 2B Orlando Hudson (2006-07), OF Gerardo Parra (CF in 2011, RF in ’13) and SS Nick Ahmed in 2018-19.
Walker, in 152 games (150 starts) at first base, posted a .998 fielding percentage and committed only 2 errors in 1,154 total chances across 1,309.1 innings. He led all first basemen with 12 outs above average and 9 runs prevented for the second consecutive season. His 9 defensive runs saved were second among first basemen, behind only Carlos Santana/Pirates-Brewers (11 DRS).
Moreno, 23, became the first D-backs’ catcher to earn Gold Glove honors and did so in his first full Major League season. His 3.1 defensive bWAR led the Majors for all positions, the first catcher since Iván Rodríguez/Rangers in 1997 (3.0) and second D-back along with Nick Ahmed in 2018 (3.7) to lead the Majors in defensive bWAR. His 3.1 defensive bWAR is the fourth-best in a season by a D-back, behind SS Nick Ahmed (3.7 in 2018), INF Craig Counsell (3.5 in 2005) and OF Gerardo Parra (3.2 in 2013).
Moreno’s 20 defensive runs saved led all catchers and were fifth among position players in 2023 as well as tied for the fourth most by a catcher in the last 5 full seasons, since 2018. His 20 DRS are also the fourth-most in a season by a D-back behind Craig Counsell (30 in 2005), Gerardo Parra (29 in 2013) and Nick Ahmed (28 in 2018).
Moreno led all catchers (min. 90 games) with a 38.6 caught stealing percentage (22-for-57). In 104 games (94 starts) at catcher, he posted a .997 fielding percentage and committed only 3 errors in 879 total chances across 854.0 innings.
Walker and Moreno have an opportunity for further recognition with the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award®, which allows fans to vote for each league’s best defender by selecting 1 player from among the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winners to take home the “best of the best” honor. Voting is live at rawlings.com now through Thu., Nov. 9 at 9:59 p.m. PHX/11:59 p.m. ET.