Remember when the Phillies were viewed as a team of power hitters with a “see ball, smash ball” mentality, often treating defense like an afterthought—something you knew existed but didn’t always appreciate? Well, those days are far behind us.
The Rawlings Gold Glove finalists have been revealed, and the Phillies now boast not one, not two, but *four* finalists. That’s right—the Phillies have so many players recognized for their defensive skills that you’ll need more than one hand to count them!
Congratulations to Zack Wheeler on being named a @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award Finalist! pic.twitter.com/wGrGveC9V9
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 15, 2024
In his first full season at first base, Bryce Harper has been named a @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award Finalist! pic.twitter.com/itoz2z8sBq
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 15, 2024
In his first full season at first base, Bryce Harper has been named a @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award Finalist! pic.twitter.com/itoz2z8sBq
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 15, 2024
For the second straight year, Bryson Stott is a @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award Finalist!
Congrats, Stotty! pic.twitter.com/Gh4Q8sP7XO
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 15, 2024
We’ve come a long way, baby…
When you break down how each Phillies finalist stacks up against their competition at each position, you can almost see a clear path to victory for each of them. With a closer look, it’s not hard to imagine any of these players taking home a Gold Glove award this year.
2024 Gold Glove finalists
| 2B | OAA | DRS | UZR/150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| K. Marte | 8 | 10 | 2.1 |
| B. Stott | 1 | 7 | -0.1 |
| B. Turang | 6 | 21 | 2.1 |
| LF | OAA | DRS | UZR/150 |
| L. Gurriel | 3 | 4 | 1.8 |
| I. Happ | -2 | 8 | 11.0 |
| B. Marsh | 0 | 7 | 2.7 |
| 1B | OAA | DRS | UZR/150 |
| M. Olson | 4 | 14 | 0.1 |
| B. Harper | 8 | 5 | 0.9 |
| C. Walker | 13 | 7 | 2.9 |
While their stats may not immediately jump off the page, there’s a case to be made for each Phillies finalist in the Gold Glove race. Bryson Stott’s candidacy might be the most uncertain of the bunch, especially when you dig into the numbers. On paper, he doesn’t seem like a clear finalist, but the voting process, which incorporates input from players and coaches, likely reflects how well he’s perceived defensively across the league. It’s clear that his on-field performance and hustle have earned him respect.
One of the season’s most remarkable stories is Bryce Harper’s transformation into a near-elite first baseman. In just about 18 months, he’s gone from never playing the position to being recognized as one of the top fielders at first. It’s a testament to his adaptability and work ethic—perhaps Billy Beane’s “defense can be taught” philosophy holds true after all.
Brandon Marsh seems like the Phillies player with the strongest chance of winning a Gold Glove. While Harper has been stellar, Christian Walker has both the stats and reputation, making him tough to beat. Marsh, however, stands on equal footing with his competitors, like Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ian Happ. Metrics such as Baseball Prospectus’ Deserved Runs Prevented (DRP) show Marsh behind Gurriel and Happ (4.3 DRP compared to their 9.7 DRP), but if you look at Statcast’s Fielding Run Value (FRV), Marsh edges them out with a 2 FRV, compared to Gurriel’s 1 FRV and Happ’s -1 FRV. Though the margins are small, this could tip things in Marsh’s favor.
As for Zack Wheeler, his victory last year could work in his favor. With strong competition from Max Fried and Luis Severino, repeating as a Gold Glove winner won’t be easy, but it’s certainly within reach.
It’s also a huge credit to Bobby Dickerson, the Phillies’ infield coach, for helping elevate Stott and Harper’s defensive games, and to Paco Figueroa for overseeing Marsh’s development in the outfield. The Phillies’ defensive improvement has undoubtedly played a key role in their rise to one of the league’s top teams this season.
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