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Congratulations to @KKiermaier39 on winning back-to-back Gold Glove Awards! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/FAM9PlUHnb
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) November 9, 2016
Kevin Kiermaier, 2015 Gold and Platinum Glove winner, won his second career Gold Glove in 2016. Kiermaier beat out fellow finalists Kevin Pillar (Toronto) and Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Boston).
Kiermaier was limited to 105 games after breaking his hand in Detroit on May 21. In 872.1 innings Kiermaier led center fielders with 25 DRS and his 12.3 UZR (24.2 UZR/150) trailed only Pillar’s 21.4 UZR (26.3 UZR/150) in the AL.
Congratulations are in order for the best defender in the majors and one who plays such a critical role with the fly ball heavy rotation the Rays possess.
Kiermaier joins rare company as a winner of Gold Gloves in their first two full seasons in the majors. This likely isn’t the last time you’ll see Kiermaier taking home the gold.
#Rays @KKiermaier39 is 2nd AL OF to win #GoldGlove in first two full seasons .... the other one - Ichiro Suzuki
— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) November 9, 2016
Next up is Kiermaier’s defense of his Platinum Glove. Show your support by voting for Kiermaier at Rawlings.com. Kiermaier won the award over finalists Kevin Pillar (Toronto Blue Jays) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (Boston Red Sox).
According to the team’s press release: Kiermaier is the first AL center fielder since the awards were first presented in 1957 to claim the Gold Glove in each of his first two full seasons in the majors. The only other AL outfielder to do that was Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001-02.