The winners for this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove were announced by Major League Baseball on Sunday night and among those selected was Anthony Volpe, who became the first rookie in Yankee’s franchise history to take home the award.
The Gold Glove award was first presented in 1957, with the winner being the best defensive player at each position in each league. A few weeks ago, MLB released the top three finalists for the award at every position. The winners are voted on by coaches and managers, who may not vote for their own players.
Joining his childhood idol, Derek Jeter, as the second Yankees shortstop to win a Gold Glove, Volpe also became the youngest shortstop ever to win the honor. In this year’s MLB season, he played in 159 games with the Yankees and finished with a fielding percentage of .970. He had 357 assists and just 17 errors. He helped turn 63 double plays and also had 15 defensive runs saved.
Offensively, he also became the first Yankee rookie to join the 20/20 Club, with 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases. After gaining the attention of everyone in baseball with a spectacular pre-season with the club, Volpe was given the starting role as shortstop with the Yankees. Once Volpe achieved his dream of playing shortstop for the Yankees, he made strides in asserting himself as a player who blends athleticism, power, speed and defense. The Gold Glove award is validation for the 22-year-old New Jersey native and graduate of Morristown’s Delbarton School, who has worked tirelessly to make himself a better shortstop. Said manager Aaron Boone on the final day of the season, “I think he’s got a real chance to win the Gold Glove. To do that at shortstop, at a premium position like that, is huge.”
