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If it was up to Davey Martinez, Washington Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon would have to build himself a shelf for all the hardware his manager thinks he deserves to get after another impressive campaign by the 29-year-old infielder at the plate and with the glove.
Martinez was asked in August if he thought Rendon had a case for the NL MVP this season, before he finished up with a .319/.412/.598 line, 44 doubles, 34 home runs, 117 runs scored, 126 RBIs, and 154 wRC+ in 146 games and 646 plate appearances, over which he was worth a career-high 7.0 fWAR.
“I’ll make a case for him right now: MVP, Gold Glove, my man, Anthony,” Martinez said.
While we don’t know if Rendon will be a finalist for the NL MVP yet, we learned today that the 2011 1st Round pick is a finalist for the NL Gold Glove at third base.
Defensively this season, Rendon finished with a .969 fld%, tied for fifth among qualified NL third basemen, +2 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) which were the sixth-most in the National League, and a 2.0 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) which was fifth best in the so-called senior circuit.
The postseason isn't over yet but we've hit AWARDS SZN.
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) October 24, 2019
Anthony Rendon is a Gold Glove finalist! Hit RETWEET to congratulate him. pic.twitter.com/nSGy5FLHHm
The other finalists for the award are are the six-time Gold Glover, Colorado Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado, and the Atlanta Braves’ Josh Donaldson, who led all NL 3B with a total of 15 DRS on the season.
Arenado was second with 8 DRS in the regular season, and he led all third baseman in UZR, at +10.3, to Donaldson’s 2.4, which were fourth-best.
Will Rendon end Arenado’s run of six straight NL Gold Gloves at third? The numbers don’t seem to be on his side.
Joining Rendon among the finalists for NL Gold Gloves this season, are center fielder Victor Robles and left fielder Juan Soto, both of whom are finalists at their respective positions for the first time.
Robles’s 22 DRS were tops amongst NL center fielders, with his 5.3 UZR the 4th best in the National League, behind fellow finalists Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers (20 DRS, 7.0 UZR), and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Harrison Bader (13 DRS, good for third among qualified center fielders, and a 12.9 UZR, which was the NL’S best).
They don’t call him Victor Throw-bles for nothing!
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) October 24, 2019
Victor Robles is a Gold Glove finalist! Hit RETWEET to congratulate him. pic.twitter.com/y8sCaBuQUU
Soto finished the season with 1 DRS, second among qualified NL left fielders, and his -0.7 UZR was second among left fielders, with his fellow finalists David Peralta of the Arizona Diamondbacks (10 DRS), and Hunter Renfroe of the San Diego Padres (7 DRS), ranked 1-2, respectively, among NL outfielders with at least 250 innings in left, with Peralta’s 6.2 UZR out there the NL’s best as well.
24k MAGIC ✨
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) October 24, 2019
Juan Soto is a Gold Glove finalist! Hit RETWEET to congratulate him. pic.twitter.com/iWyaQUDSMV
Will Rendon, Robles, or Soto take home some gold? Will Rendon add to his resume as free agency approaches?