These 3 Rox could have Gold in their sights

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding's Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER – Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle earned his second straight Gold Glove, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar garnered his first -- and both plan to keep producing highlights and receiving honors. But how much more gold could come the Rockies’ way?

First, please take a few moments to see why Doyle and Tovar were picked for the honor:

Doyle's Gold Glove campaign

Tovar's Gold Glove campaign

While there is much for the Rockies to fix, the defense could be in good shape. The offseason has just begun and roster remaking could occur, but three more players are legitimate candidates:

3B Ryan McMahon

McMahon was a finalist for the fourth consecutive year.

“I think I’m a really good defender,” McMahon said. “Matt Chapman [the Giants’ third baseman, who won for the second straight season] had a better season, but I keep grinding.”

Does McMahon, who turns 30 on Dec. 14, list the award as a goal?

“Yes and no,” McMahon said. “I’d definitely love to win one. It’s a cool honor. But I just try to play good defense. When I’m struggling on offense, the reason I play good defense is these other guys on the team are trying to provide for their families and make their name on their own. So I do it for them.”

2B Brendan Rodgers

After winning the award in 2022, Rodgers missed most of '23 due to surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He was solid in 2024, although he missed time in June with a left hamstring injury. Rodgers noted that the position was crowded.

“I’ve seen what Brice Turang [Brewers 2B who won the award this year] has done. He had a lot of Defensive Runs Saved, and that’s a big factor,” Rodgers said. “There are a lot of good ones. [The Cubs’] Nico Hoerner had a good year after winning it at shortstop last year. I know offense is not supposed to have a lot to do with it, but Ketel Marte [Diamondbacks] is the best-hitting second baseman.

“It’s a popular era for second basemen -- average, power and defense. I put myself up there. But playing in Denver [and] not making the playoffs the last couple of years, that’s part of the game.”

1B Michael Toglia

The Rockies have touted Toglia’s defense since drafting him in the first round out of UCLA in 2019, and he lived up to it while starting the Rockies’ final 90 games at first while spending most of the season in the Majors for the first time.

The blemish was his NL-leading eight errors at first.

“I had some weird errors this year. Lost a ball in the sun, had an obstruction call and slipped on the base, uncharacteristic things instead of just booting the ball,” he noted.

But Toglia also led the league in range factor per nine innings (9.26), and his dWAR and Defensive Runs Saved each ranked second. And his efficient footwork in starting double plays has grown into a signature move.

“You don’t want to waste any movements,” Toglia said. “I remember reading about Michael Jordan, how he didn’t want to waste any footsteps. So why not translate that to all sports? Also, the better footwork I have, the better I can get back to first and keep the ball out of the pitcher’s hands. I take pride in that.”