Now that the MLB season is only a few weeks away from officially ending, we're getting into offseason mode and award nominations are beginning. The 2024 Gold Glove Award finalists were announced on Tuesday, and the Philadelphia Phillies are well-represented among the nominations for the National League.
Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler headline four deserving Phillies Gold Glove Award finalists
For the second consecutive year, four members of the 2024 Phillies have been named finalists for the award, which recognizes defensive excellence at each position. Last season, only one of the four Phillies who were named finalists took home the Gold Glove Award. Hopefully, there's more hardware heading to Philadelphia this year.
As for who determines the finalists and winners, votes from all 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team comprise 75 percent of the total, with the SABR Defensive Index counting for the other quarter.
The winners will be announced on ESPN’s "Baseball Tonight" on Nov. 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Bryce Harper, 1B
In his first full season at first base, Bryce Harper impressed everyone with the second-highest Outs Above Average among NL first basemen with +8 OAA and finished fifth with 5 DRS.
Harper is in tough against the two-time defending Gold Glove winner Christian Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Matt Olson of the Braves. Walker led the NL with +13 OAA, while Olson led with 14 DRS.
Zack Wheeler, SP
Not only was Zack Wheeler one of the best at pitching the ball this season, but he was also one of the best at fielding, like most years. The Phillies ace earned his first Gold Glove Award last season and has a strong case again this year with 3 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).
However, the defending NL Gold Glove winner is up against the New York Mets' Luis Severino (5 DRS) and Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves (4 DRS).
Bryson Stott, 2B
A finalist last year, Bryson Stott gets another nomination this season after finishing with 7 DRS, good for fourth among NL second basemen. Unfortunately, the Phillies second baseman could find himself playing second fiddle again this year.
The other finalists, the D-backs' Ketel Marte and the Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang, both ranked higher than Stott in the two primary advanced defensive stats. Turang led the way with 21 DRS, while Marte had the highest Outs Above Average among the finalists with +8 OAA.
Brandon Marsh, LF
Brandon Marsh finished second among NL left fielders with 7 DRS in 684 innings in left field. He's up against two-time defending Gold Glover Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs who had 8 DRS. The D-backs' Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also has a strong case with his +3 OAA leading the way in left field.
We'll see if Marsh's lack of playing time hurts his chances, with both Happ and Gurriel logging more than 1,000 innings in left field this year.