SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Royals catcher Salvador Perez, one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball, continues to be recognized for it.
Perez won his fourth straight American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Tuesday night.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, who had won three straight Gold Gloves, was a finalist, but did not win. Alex Gordon, nominated for the sixth straight year, also did not win. Gordon has four Gold Gloves.
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"Salvy is the best in our league," Royals manager Ned Yost said late last season. "And he continues to improve."
Perez threw out 37 potential basestealers this season, and led the AL with 11 Defensive Runs Saved, according to Baseball Info Solutions.
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How did winning his fourth Gold Glove compare to the others?
"I think it's better," a smiling Perez said on ESPN.
Perez also said his greatest thrill is throwing out the fastest runners in baseball. He then was asked which speedy Royal he'd like to throw out, and Perez said, "[Jarrod] Dyson. If I played for another team, I'd like to throw him out."
Gordon has 74 outfield assists since 2010, most by an outfielder in the Major Leagues. Gordon lost out to Brett Gardner of the Yankees.
Hosmer lost out to Mitch Moreland of Texas.
"Hoz is one of the best in the business at picking throws at first base," Yost said. "That takes a tremendous amount of pressure off our other infielders."
Major League managers and coaches, voting only within their league and unable to vote for players on their own teams, account for 75 percent of the selection process. The other 25 percent goes to the sabermetrics community.