CLEVELAND, OH – Indians catcher Roberto Perez and shortstop Francisco Lindor were named finalists for the 2019 American League Gold Glove Awards on Thursday.
Perez is a finalist for the first time in his career. He didn’t allow a passed ball and threw out 40.8 percent of runners who attempted to steal last season.
Perez dealt with various ailments in 2019, including bone spurs in his ankle, but he still played in 119 games and helped the Indians’ young pitchers like Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Jefry Rodriguez have success in critical moments.
“He’s extraordinary at leading a pitching staff,” Chris Antonetti said about Perez.
The 30-year-old emerged as a leader in the clubhouse and helped the Indians reach 93 wins in his first full season starting at catcher.
It’s the guys that grow by playing the game right, by playing beat up like Berto is – showing up everyday, doing it right, speaking up at the right time, not the wrong time,” manager Terry Francona said in August.
Perez was first in Major League Baseball with 29 defensive runs saved, which was 17 more than the next catcher and most by a catcher since 2013 (Yadier Molina).
Danny Jansen of the Blue Jays and Christian Vazquez of the Red Sox are also finalists at catcher.
Stay golden @robperez2015 and @Lindor12BC.Congrats on being named 2019 Gold Glove Finalists for AL Catcher and AL Shortstop. pic.twitter.com/twWdEJl5M9
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) October 24, 2019It’s the fourth time Lindor has been named a finalist for the award. In 2016 he became the first Puerto Rican shortstop to win the award. He was named runner-up in 2017 and 2018.
Lindor compiled the second-highest fielding pct. (.979) among qualifying AL shortstops with 10 errors in 481 total chances in 2019. Only Marcus Semien from Oakland had a better fielding percentage (.481).
Semien and Andrelton Simmons are also finalists for the award.
