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Twins First Baseman Wins First Career Gold Glove

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The Minnesota Twins shared on their social media accounts on Sunday evening that Carlos Santana won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award at first base for the American League. It is the first Gold Glove of Santana’s career and he is the first Twins first baseman to win it since Doug Mientkiewicz in 2001. The last time the Twins had a Gold Glove winner was in 2017 when Brian Dozier and Byron Buxton each won the award.

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Twins First Baseman Carlos Santana Wins Gold Glove Award

Impressive Defensive Stats

Santana’s fielding percentage in 2024 was a remarkable .996. This fielding percentage demonstrates reliability at first base, as his fielding percentage was above the league average for first basemen. With a range factor of 7.85 (putouts + assists) per nine innings, Santana demonstrated the ability to cover ground and make plays. His 998 putouts and 92 assists over 1250 innings demonstrate Santana’s effectiveness to the team’s defense.

All of these stats were compiled while only having four errors all season, showing Santana as the anchor of the Twins’ defense. With 8 defensive runs saved in 2024, his defense provided a notable edge for the Twins in the field. Starting 139 of 146 games played at first base, Santana’s stamina is impressive for a player at age 38.

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Veteran Presence

Santana signed a one-year deal with the Twins in 2024 for $5.25 million. Appearing in 150 games, Santana brought consistency to the lineup with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, and a .749 OPS. Santana’s 2.5 WAR puts him third on the team for position players and only behind Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton. After Alex Kirilloff‘s surprising retirement last Thursday, it would make sense for the Twins to bring Santana back and keep this veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Santana characterized his 2024 season with reliability, defensive excellence, and dependability as one of the best first basemen in the league. His 2024 performance demonstrates how a seasoned veteran can still make an impact late in their career.

 

Photo Credit: © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The post Twins First Baseman Wins First Career Gold Glove appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.