When it comes to defensive stalwarts who have captured Gold Glove honors for the Philadelphia Phillies in the past, some of the first ones who come to mind this century would include the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and even Placido Polanco. But there were some Phillies that may have challenged for the award, but never ended up being recognized for their defensive excellence.
However, a former Phillie finally managed to achieve the feat as Jean Segura has recently been named a Gold Glove winner, albeit in the Dominican Winter League with the Leones del Escogido. In 43 games at second base with the club, he registered just five errors in 189 total chances for a solid .974 fielding percentage while making plays like this seem routine.
You’ll never guess which former Phillies player won a Gold Glove in Winter Ball
For the casual Phillies fans who remember Segura during his tenure with the club, they may remember him more for his offensive contributions than his defensive ones. After all, they likely wouldn’t forget his inaugural season in 2019 with the team when he recorded a league-high 20 errors while playing shortstop. That year, he posted a dismal .963 fielding percentage with -3 defensive runs saved (DRS) and -7 outs above average to rank in the eighth percentile in the league.
However, Segura massively improved after the Phillies moved him to second base on a more permanent basis in the subsequent years, as he maintained a fielding percentage above .980 with 6 DRS between the years 2020-2022. The change in position appeared to be what was crucial for his future success, as it ultimately led to his defensive play being finally recognized now with the highest merit.
As for Segura and his 2024 season prior to Winter Ball, that was another story as he struggled to find work in the majors. Segura had signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles in August but only appeared in 14 games with their Triple-A affiliate Norfolk. He compiled a .137 average and .446 OPS with just four runs scored, three doubles and three RBI in 60 total plate appearances before he was released in early September.
On the other hand, Segura may have now earned himself another shot for the upcoming season after a strong showing in the Dominican. In 46 games of action, he posted a solid .287 average and .701 OPS with 19 runs scored, nine doubles, two home runs, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases. Together with his Gold Glove Award win, he has shown that he may be still capable of producing both offensively and defensively at the age of 34. So now it just comes down to which MLB team is willing to give him that opportunity to continue his professional baseball career.