Rawlings Baseball announced Gold Glove Award finalists on Wednesday, and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz was not named a finalist for the utility Gold Glove.
Ortiz spent half of the season at shortstop and half at third base because the Brewers called up prospect Cooper Pratt to be the everyday shortstop. The finalists for the National League Utility Gold Glove are Mauricio Dubón of the Atlanta Braves, Jared Triolo of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Ildemaro Vargas of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ortiz posted higher outs above average and defensive runs saved than all of those players. It's unclear why Ortiz was not considered. He played enough innings to qualify and committed just 10 errors in the season despite playing in the infield all year.
Dubón had six errors, but played a ton of innings in the outfield where errors are less likely. Vargas spent most of the season between first and second base, committing just three errors. He had a solid defensive season, but his outs above average were at just plus-two. Triolo spent most of his time between shortstop and third base, like Ortiz, but committed 11 total errors in the season. He ranked in the 44th percentile for outs above average.
Ortiz struggled with the bat for most of the year, but his glove was so good that Pat Murphy kept putting him out there. He eventually turned things around at the plate, but his defense was still his calling card. Had he spent the season entirely at third base, it's hard to imagine he would not have been a Gold Glove Award finalist at the position.
He is an elite defender who played a major part in the Brewers having the best record in baseball this year.