The Giants defense, which was shockingly bad early in the 2020 MLB season, got back to normal when Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria returned to everyday roles. On Thursday, one of those players was honored for his glove work.
Belt was one of three finalists for the National League Gold Glove Award at first base, joining Chicago's Anthony Rizzo and St. Louis' Paul Goldschmidt. Belt was the only Giant to be nominated for a Gold Glove.
Belt had a career year at the plate, and his work at first base was as strong as usual. He ranked third in the NL in Outs Above Average and was tied with Goldschmidt for second in Defensive Runs Saved (one apiece), trailing only Rizzo (three DRS).
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The winner will be decided by the SABR Defensive Index, which is usually updated throughout the year but has not been made public this season because that would reveal the winners ahead of the Nov. 3 special on ESPN. The SDI has traditionally been kind to Belt, who finished second among NL first baseman in the stat last year and first the two previous seasons. He is still looking for his first Gold Glove Award.
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San Francisco Giants
The third base nominees where Colorado's Nolan Arenado, San Diego's Manny Machado and Miami's Brian Anderson. At shortstop, Crawford was left out of a group that consisted of Chicago's Javy Baez, Atlanta's Dansby Swanson and Miami's Miguel Rojas.