Doyle, Tovar take home Gold Glove Awards for stellar 2024 play

DENVER -- Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar -- announced on Sunday as winners of National League Rawlings Gold Glove Awards at their positions -- ended the season believing their recognition is the early stage of a strong defensive future for the club.

It was the second Gold Glove in as many seasons for Doyle, 26, who also was recently announced as winner of The Fielding Bible Award as the best overall center fielder. Tovar, 23, won the award this year after being chosen a finalist as a rookie in 2023.

• All-time winners

Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon was acknowledged as a Gold Glove finalist for the fourth straight season, and the team believes there is more strong defense to come. There is plenty to fix for a Colorado team that has exceeded 100 losses each of the past two seasons -- but these defensive accolades are worthy of the winner the Rockies hope to become.

“The defense on this team -- winning or losing -- is up there with the best in the league,” said Doyle, who has joined Hall of Famer Larry Walker (1997-99, 2001-02) and Carlos González (2010, 2012-13) as the only outfielders in Rockies history to win Gold Gloves. “We work really hard at it. We’ve got a lot of guys that take a lot of pride in it. It definitely shows.”

Tovar, carrying on a star-studded tradition at shortstop, is the third Rockies player to earn the Gold Glove at the position, joining Neifi Perez (2000) and Troy Tulowitzki (2010-11).

“Anyone wants to win the Gold Glove,” Tovar said during the season’s final days. “If it happens, thanks to God. But if it doesn’t happen, also thanks to God. It’s out of my control. It’s not something that I give myself. I’m thankful for the season that I had.”

Doyle and Tovar are part of a strong up-the-middle defense -- important for any winning team, but especially one that plays at Coors Field.

Doyle controls the middle of an expansive ground, where playing shallow can lead to extra-base hits over an outfielder’s head and playing deep leads to frustrating soft base hits. Doyle finished the season first among center fielders and second among all MLB players with an 11.4 ultimate zone rating. His 16 Outs Above Average was tied for second among MLB outfielders, and he was tied for fourth in runs prevented with 14.

• Most Gold Glove Awards at each position

Tovar leads an infield that always has to be strong -- heavy strikeout pitchers usually choose to not pitch in Denver, so putting ground balls away for outs is paramount. He finished second among shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage. He led MLB shortstops in total chances (676), assists (435) and double plays (107, including 52 he started, the most among shortstops).

Tovar was the 15th shortstop in MLB history and second Rockies shortstop (Tulowitzki in 2015) to have at least 675 total chances yet commit eight or fewer errors. His 11.2 UZR led all shortstops and ranked third in the Majors overall.

• The rookies who took home a Gold Glove

Things can change in the offseason, but the Rockies head into next year with potential for another strong defense. In addition to this year’s Gold Glovers and McMahon, the Rockies have a former winner in second baseman Brendan Rodgers (2022) and a potential winner in first baseman Michael Toglia, who had the second-most defensive runs saved at first base (10).

“I don’t know what roster changes we are going to make, but at the premium positions up the middle, I thought we were pretty good – shortstop, second base, center field,” manager Bud Black said of the Rockies’ defense. “We were really good at the corners.”