Detroit Tigers: Will Verlander, McCann, Kinsler or Iglesias Win a Gold Glove?


Jose Iglesias
Position: Shortstop
Def: 17.6
DRS: 3
UZR: 11.6
Competition: Anaheim’s Andrelton Simmons and Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor
In any other scenario, Jose Iglesias would be the Detroit Tigers’ best bet to win a fielding award.
The slick-fielding shortstop ranks eighth among all position players in defensive runs above average.
Unfortunately, five of the seven players ranked ahead of Iglesias play the same position. What’s more, two of them are in the same league and were also nominated for the American League Gold Glove.
Iglesias also ranks highly among position players in UZR (16th) and UZR/150 (21st).
However, he’s been grouped with two other excellent fielding shortstops in Lindor and Simmons. Both rank among baseball’s elite defensive players, regardless of position.
In terms of shortstops in the American League, Detroit’s starter finished third in Def and UZR. The two players to finish ahead of him? You guessed it, Lindor and Simmons.
Because of a stacked field and a strangely low DRS number from Iglesias, the Tigers shortstop may miss out on his first Gold Glove.
Next: Recapping Cameron Maybin's Excellent Motown Return
He’ll no doubt be back in the running for this award on multiple occasions before he calls it a career, but he’s been handed a tough draw this time around.