NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs had a Gold Glove middle infield this year, officially. Dansby Swanson has won his second Gold Glove, and Nico Hoerner won his first. And in left field, Ian Happ won his second straight Gold Glove with the Cubs.
That’s the first time in franchise history the Cubs have had three Gold Glove winners in a single year (h/t Meghan Montemurro).
Dansby Swanson was an absolute no-brainer to win the award this year. Not only was he the top defensive shortstop by any metric you prefer, but he was one of the top few defenders OVERALL in any metric you prefer. He was a steady, consistent presence out there, and was also good for an occasional sparkling play.
Nico Hoerner was perhaps a closer call at second base, but no less deserving. He was among the top few second basemen in the NL in every advanced defensive metric, and pitched in well at shortstop, too.
Having those two up the middle this year was an embarrassment of riches defensively. And they had Cody Bellinger in center field most of the time, too!
As for Ian Happ, the win might surprise some given his seeming struggles earlier in the year, but the eye test said he at least improved as the year went on, and the advanced defensive metrics still had him among the best in left field. The reality? Most left fielders are brutally terrible defenders, and very few actually even reach “qualifying” level. For left fielders in the current era, Happ is a good defender, and the Gold Glove win really isn’t that outlandish.
