Joe Maddon looked around his defense during spring training and saw Gold Glove-potential at nearly every position. The Tampa Bay Rays manager went so far as to challenge his players to have a Gold Glove-type season.
You could make a case for shortstop Jason Bartlett and left fielder Carl Crawford, but when the American League All-Star team was announced Tuesday, it contained the name of only one Ray: Evan Longoria.
“I’m not surprised,” Maddon said. “Longoria played at such a high level. He played at a high level (in 2008).”
Longoria, who turned 24 on Oct. 7, was the youngest player in the American League to win a Gold Glove at any position since Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez, who was 23 in 2001.
Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson (1960) and Philadelphia’s Scott Rolen (1998) were both 23 when they won their first Gold Gloves.
“It’s the one award that I’ve wanted to win since I started pro ball,” Longoria said in a statement released by the Rays. “I take a lot of pride in my defense, so this award is very special to me. It’s humbling to have your name associated with some of the great players who have won a Gold Glove, especially the third basemen. I would like to thank the managers and coaches who voted for me and I’d also like to thank (first baseman) Carlos Peña. We all know how good he is. He probably saved me at least five errors this year so without him the award might not have been possible.”
Peña became the first Ray to win a Gold Glove in team history when he earned the honor in 2008.
Longoria joins White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira Tiger second baseman Placido Polanco, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and outfielders Adam Jones (Orioles), Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) and Torii Hunter (Angels) on the Gold Glove team.
“I really thought we would get more than one,” Maddon said. “I thought Carl would get one for left field.”
Longoria’s .970 fielding percentage was second to Baltimore’s Melvin Mora’s .971 among American League third baseman. He led all major league third baseman by starting 43 double plays, and he was second in the American League in assists with 302.
“He is very consistent,” Maddon said. “Evan is one of the best at hitting the second baseman on the double play.”
Longoria became the first third baseman in team history to start more than 120 games in one season — he started 150.
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