When the 2024 MLB Gold Glove finalists were announced on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies were well-represented with a total of four nominees. First baseman Bryce Harper, second baseman Bryson Stott, left fielder Brandon Marsh and pitcher Zack Wheeler all made the distinguished list.
However, there was one Phillie who was probably just as deserving but ended up being snubbed in the Gold Glove Award voting: starting pitcher Ranger Suárez.
Suárez had a tumultuous season on the mound in which he began as one of the best pitchers in the league before injuries and ineffectiveness significantly dampened his second half. Despite that, he still managed to post a solid 12-8 record with a 3.46 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, with 145 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings.
Phillies’ Ranger Suárez inexplicably snubbed in Gold Glove Award voting
Even with his late-season struggles, it doesn’t take anything away from the fact that Suárez was one of the best defensive pitchers in the National League this season.
In terms of the finalists for NL pitchers, Wheeler was joined by Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Luis Severino of the New York Mets. However, Suárez’s numbers were just as comparable, if not at times even better than the candidates under consideration. Most prominently, his 5 DRS (defensive runs saved) tied him for third among all NL pitchers with Severino, whereas Sale was tied for sixth with 4 DRS and Wheeler was tied for 11th with 3 DRS.
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Severino actually committed five errors on just 44 total chances for a dismal .886 fielding percentage. On the other hand, for Suárez and the other candidates, their defense was spotless with a 1.000 fielding percentage over 30+ total chances and 150+ total innings.
While DRS alone isn't the sole criterion (the SABR Defensive Index counts for 25 percent of the vote), it's hard to imagine the other NL managers and coaches not giving Suárez his due. It remains quite baffling that Suárez wasn’t among the final three despite his impressive numbers across multiple defensive categories. Nevertheless, at least in the minds of the Phillies’ faithful, they all know they had one of the best defensive pitchers this year.