The White Sox might have lost 89 games this season, but the long list of strong individual performances include a pair of the best defenders in the game.
Yolmer Sanchez and Lucas Giolito were honored with Gold Gloves on Sunday night, crowned the best fielders among American League second basemen and pitchers, respectively. They’re the first White Sox to win a Gold Glove since Jake Peavy did it in 2012. Sanchez is the first White Sox position player to win one since Robin Ventura way back in 1998.
Sanchez was perhaps the favorite to win the fielding honor among American League second basemen after a sensational defensive season that saw him lead the group with 11 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Only Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals was better in that category among baseball’s second basemen.
Sanchez spoke with our Chuck Garfien in September and told him how much it would mean to win a Gold Glove.
“Everything,” he said. “I grew up watching (former White Sox shortstop) Omar Vizquel. He’s one of my role models. I always wanted to win at least one Gold Glove, because I want to follow his example because he’s from Venezuela.
“I’ve believed in my defense since Day 1. That’s why I use Rawlings, because in the future I want to win a Gold Glove.”
Well, mission accomplished. He beat out finalists Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros and D.J. LeMahieu of the New York Yankees to take home the honor.
Meanwhile, Giolito, as part of his transformational season, became the third White Sox pitcher to win a Gold Glove this decade, joining Peavy (2012) and Mark Buehrle (2009, 2010 and 2011).
After posting the worst statistics of any qualified pitcher in 2018, Giolito went to work last offseason, making mechanical adjustments and revamping his mental approach. While that worked wonders for his effectiveness as a pitcher — he’s the ace of the White Sox staff after facing questions about his ability to lock down a long-term rotation spot at this time a year ago — it also worked when it came to keeping base runners from stealing against him. After giving up 26 stolen bases in 2018, he allowed just three in 2019. Giolito also committed zero errors on the year.
He beat out other finalists Jose Berrios of the Minnesota Twins and Mike Leake, who played 22 of his 32 games with the Seattle Mariners, for the honor.
There figures to be more award news to come for the White Sox, who could see Giolito’s name pop up again as the AL Comeback Player of the Year. He also figures to finish somewhere in the vote for the AL Cy Young. Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada are all candidates to win Silver Sluggers, and all three could potentially land somewhere in MVP voting after their huge seasons. Eloy Jimenez will likely be a top-three finisher in the Rookie of the Year vote.
All that comes later this month.