Friday, February 14, 2025, 9:54PM |  32°
MENU
Advertisement
Adam Frazier celebrates with teammate Jacob Stallings after scoring on a Elias Diaz single in September.
1
MORE

Pirates' Jacob Stallings, Adam Frazier named NL Gold Glove finalists

Associated Press

Pirates' Jacob Stallings, Adam Frazier named NL Gold Glove finalists

Despite an all-around disappointing season for the Pirates, they could still have some hardware to take away from 2020.

On Thursday, Rawlings released its Gold Glove Awards finalists, and two Pirates made the cut. Catcher Jacob Stallings was named a National League finalist for the first time in his career, while second baseman Adam Frazier is a finalist for the second season in a row.

If either of them win, it will be the first Gold Glove for a Pirate since outfielder Corey Dickerson won it in 2018. The last Pirates second baseman to win the Gold Glove was Jose Lind in 1992, and the last Pirates catcher to do so was Mike LaValliere in 1987.

Advertisement

Stallings will have to beat out Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart and Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras for the honor, but even if he doesn’t, his breakout to this point is commendable.

Pirates owner Bob Nutting talks with general manager Ben Cherington during spring training in February.
Jason Mackey
One-on-one with Ben Cherington: Can the Pirates function more like the Dodgers? Perhaps

The 30-year-old has been designated for assignment twice in his Pirates’ career and only really broke onto the major-league scene in 2019. In 2020, though, he was one of the lone bright spots on the Pirates, winning the Roberto Clemente Award for team MVP.

He is well-deserving of his newest defensive recognition, though. According to baseball prospectus, Stalling led MLB in defending errant pitches, preventing more runs from scoring on errant pitches than any other catcher in the league. He was second in MLB in total defensive runs saved by a catcher, trailing only Barnhart in that category.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton has lobbied multiple times throughout the season for Stallings to be considered for the Gold Glove, which is a stark difference from what Stallings expected would happen in his career.

Advertisement

“I think it’s probably funny how maybe our goals have changed for me,” Stallings said in September. “Now we’re talking about a gold glove instead of just making a big league team or sticking with a big league team.”

As for Frazier, his competition is the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong. He, too, is well deserving of at least being named a finalist.

In 343 innings played at second base in 2020, Frazier made only one error, which was the fewest of any second baseman who played at least 300 innings at the position. Frazier also tied for seventh in MLB in defensive runs saved.

Late in the season, Frazier did make a move to left field, clearing space for the Pirates to get infielders Ke’Bryan Hayes, Erik Gonzalez and Kevin Newman on the field all at once. Clearly, though, he was one of the Pirates’ most effective defenders at second when he played there, even improving on his defensive runs saved and fielding percentage statistics from 2019, when he was also a Gold Glove finalist.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington observes instructional league workouts this week at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.
Jason Mackey
One-on-one with Ben Cherington: Decisions loom for Pirates GM

The winners of the Gold Glove Awards will be named Nov. 3 on ESPN.

Mike Persak: mpersak@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MikeDPersak

First Published: October 22, 2020, 7:06 p.m.
Updated: October 22, 2020, 7:59 p.m.

RELATED
Tristan Jarry
Paul Zeise
Paul Zeise's sports chat transcript: 10.22.20
In a 2019 photo, a view of PNC Park from Downtown.
Mark Belko
After long wait for fans to return, Aramark alerts state it furloughed more than 1,200 employees at PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park
Brandon Lowe, left, celebrates with Austin Meadows after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS.
Mike Persak
Pirates should just follow the Rays' model, right? It's not that easy
Quinn Priester, center, interacts with teammates Tuesday during a Pirates instructional league workout at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.
Jason Mackey
Quinn Priester’s progress proving Pirates have learned from past pitching pratfalls
SHOW COMMENTS (5)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Mark Sevco has been named president of Allegheny Health Network
1
business
Former UPMC executive joins Allegheny Health Network
Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sideline in the second quarter of a game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 10, 2024, in Landover, Maryland.
2
sports
Analysis: Steelers could still find a franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, but he’d have to defy history
TSA officials display the proper way to transport a gun in checked luggage during a press conference at Pittsburgh International Airport Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.
3
news
TSA intercepts loaded pink gun at Pittsburgh International Airport
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) out of the pocket as he looks for an open receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game, against Mississippi State, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. Mississippi won 26-14.
4
sports
Steelers mock draft tracker: Time to talk QBs, including Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe
The Three Sisters’ bridges are suspended over the Allegheny River as the sun rises over Downtown and PNC Park on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
5
business
Millions in stadium upgrades approved for Steelers, Pirates and Penguins
Adam Frazier celebrates with teammate Jacob Stallings after scoring on a Elias Diaz single in September.  (Associated Press)
Associated Press
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story