Dubón wins first career Gold Glove Award

HOUSTON -- Mauricio Dubón proved his worth to the Astros from the start of the 2023 season, when took over as the starter at second base after Jose Altuve fractured his thumb in the World Baseball Classic. Dubón held down the position until Altuve returned in May, but he was only starting to show his worth.

Dubón started games at five different defensive positions -- 64 at second base, 24 in center field, six in left field, nine at shortstop and two at first base -- and on Sunday he won his first career Rawlings Gold Glove at the utility position in the American League. He was also nominated for a Gold Glove at second base.

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“I feel very prideful in what I do, my defense,” Dubón said last month after being nominated for a Gold Glove. “I prepare myself every day to play whatever position I get to play. If I'm not playing, I think that's the hardest day because I've got to prepare for seven positions. So I think that's the biggest thing for me, just how I try not to make mistakes on defense, but sometimes it's going to happen.”

Dubón started 35 of the team’s first 42 games at second base after Altuve fractured his thumb in the WBC and required surgery. He started 13 consecutive games at second base in July while Altuve was dealing with a left oblique injury and was typically the starting center fielder with Justin Verlander on the mound.

• All-time Gold Glove Award winners

“He's been amazing,” Altuve said last month. “We all know that. He loves playing the game. He loves showing up every day. And playing wherever he gets to play -- it can be shortstop, second base, center field, left field. And he hits. And more than that, he's a great teammate.

“He's always rooting for the team whether he's playing or not. And probably I don't think we'd be here without him. He's been such a big part of this lineup, this team, this organization this year. And I know he had more to do with this postseason because he's been playing really good. And hopefully he keeps playing and getting big hits for us.”

Dubón, who was traded for Minor League catcher Michael Papierski in May 2022, said getting dealt from the Giants to the Astros saved his career. He felt underappreciated and underutilized in San Francisco, where he played in 177 games from 2019-22.

“I think obviously it was the best thing for my career, [getting] the opportunity,” he said. “I was telling somebody that I got smarter, I got a little stronger. But my ability hasn't changed. For me, it was a matter of getting a chance. And thanks to the Astros, they gave me a chance to get out there and show people what I can do.”