Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto announced as Gold Glove finalists

Philadelphia Phillies stars Zack Wheeler and J.T. Realmuto were both named finalists for the 2021 Gold Glove Awards, the sporting goods brand Rawlings announced Thursday afternoon.

The company presents the top fielders at each position in both the American League and National League at the end of each season, based on voting from major-league managers and coaches and statistical input from the Society of American Baseball Research.

For Wheeler, who had just two fielding errors in 213 1/3 innings this season, the Gold Glove nomination likely won’t be the last time he sees his name in the running for an award. He appears poised for a top-five finish in NL Cy Young voting after a breakout second year in Philadelphia, leading the majors in innings pitched, leading the league in strikeouts (247) and finishing fifth in ERA (2.78).

Realmuto’s nomination comes two seasons after he won the Gold Glove Award for NL catchers in 2019, his first season with the Phillies. He led the NL in defensive WAR (16.9) this year, according to FanGraphs, was tied for the league lead in framing runs with 8.8 and made only one error as a catcher. Realmuto was also named a 2021 Silver Slugger finalist.

Fellow NL pitchers Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves and Chicago’s Zach Davies will oppose Wheeler for the honor, while Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Pittsburgh’s Jacob Stallings were named finalists alongside Realmuto.

The full list of finalists from both leagues can be found here.

The 2021 Gold Glove Award winners will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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