Thursday, Rawlings announced the finalists for the 2016 Gold Glove Awards. Two Atlanta Braves – centerfielder Ender Inciarte and right-fielder Nick Markakis – are among the finalists.
The Braves have a rich recent history of taking home Gold Glove Awards. Greg Maddux and Andruw Jones both won 10 consecutive GG’s as members of the organization. Mike Hampton (2003), Jeff Francoeur (2007), Jason Heyward (2012, 2014), and Andrelton Simmons (2013, 2014) have also won the award in recent years.
Now, the 2016 outfield duo will look to join that list.
Inciarte’s nomination was expected. He has been a revelation in center field in his first season in Atlanta. He plays hard and has a knack for tracking the ball while on a dead sprint. He gets a good jump and covers a ton of ground. When Mallex Smith returns, he and Inciarte will have about as much range as any duo in baseball.
His most-played highlight this year was probably when he faked out Carlos Ruiz to start a double play. Inciarte camped under the ball but held his hands up like he had lost it in the lights. That lured Ruiz off first base far enough that when Inciarte did catch the ball he was able to fire back to first.
Markakis’s nomination comes as a bit of a surprise. His style in the outfield is very different than Inciarte’s. He doesn’t make a ton of highlight-reel catches and he doesn’t cover a ton of ground. What Markakis does do though – rarely make mistakes.
He has a very conservative approach to defense. He keeps the ball in front of him, he makes the routine play, and he minimizes his mistakes. It isn’t Web Gems material but it does help the team.
Unfortunately, neither is really considered favorites to win the awards. Billy Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds (center field) and Jason Heyward of the Chicago Cubs (right field) are the two that are expected to take home the honors.
Scott Ferris covers the Braves as a Staff Writer for Outside Pitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter @ScottHFerris
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