Giants' Brandon Crawford wins first career Gold Glove

SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Crawford has always been known as a glove-first shortstop, but it wasn’t until he actually reached the big leagues that Crawford started dreaming of winning a Gold Glove Award. He hoped to start as a nominee and go from there, but in his first year as a finalist, Crawford ended up finishing the job.

Crawford on Tuesday was named the Gold Glove shortstop in the National League, ending a two-year run by Atlanta Braves whiz Andrelton Simmons, who at one time looked to have a stranglehold on the award for years to come.

Crawford is the first Giant to win a Gold Glove since Omar Vizquel went back-to-back in 2005 and 2006. He said he was optimistic but still somewhat surprised when his agent called with the good news.

“I pride myself on my defense. It’s a big priority to me and I felt like I had a pretty good year defensively,” he said. “(But) the class of shortstops in the National League is so good. Simmons winning the last two years and even getting a Platinum Glove one of those years, and (Adeiny) Hechavarria is a very good shortstop also. Just to be a finalist, I was excited. To find out I won, I was very proud.”

Crawford has long had the highlight reel to put himself in position for a Gold Glove. He took a step forward this year, finishing in the top three among NL shortstops in most advanced metrics. A quarter of the Gold Glove vote is made up of the SABR Defensive Index, and Crawford led the entire National League when the final regular season results were released in mid-September. He had a commanding lead over Simmons and Hechavarria among shortstops.

“I think I was probably a little more consistent this year,” Crawford said. “I cut down on the plays where I tried to do maybe a little bit too much. I made more consistent throws to first and (Brandon) Belt and Buster (Posey), who got way better this year, helped me out every once in a while. But I think for the most part I made more consistent throws this year. I focused on being on balance. In the past, some balls had sailed or went in the dirt.”

Crawford gave a shoutout to infield coach Ron Wotus, who has worked tirelessly with all of the Giants infielders and has a particularly close relationship with his shortstop. It’s Wotus and Crawford who have enabled the Giants to embrace increased use of shifts the last two seasons. Wotus had his hands all over the Gold Glove nominee list. Belt, Posey and Duffy were nominated, and Joe Panik likely would have been had he not gotten hurt.

Crawford is the one with clubhouse bragging rights, and he did recently speak with another finalist. It wasn’t about defense, though.

“Belt and I talked,” Crawford said. “But it was about fantasy football.”

Crawford's Giants teammates Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Matt Duffy were also Gold Glove finalists, but the award for NL catcher went to the Cardinals' Yadier Molina, the Gold Glove for NL first baseman went to Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, and the Gold Glove for NL third baseman went to the Rockies' Nolan Arenado.

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The full list of 2015 Gold Glove winners:

Catcher
NL: Yadier Molina, Cardinals (eighth straight win)
AL: Salvador Perez, Royals (third straight)

Shortstop
NL: Brandon Crawford, Giants (first)
AL: Alcides Escobar, Royals (first)

First base
NL: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs (second)
AL: Eric Hosmer, Royals (third straight)

Second base
NL: Dee Gordon, Marlins (first)
AL: Jose Altuve, Astros (first)

Third base
NL: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (third straight)
AL: Manny Machado, Orioles (second)

Left field
NL: Starling Marte, Pirates (first)
AL: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers (first)

Center field
NL: A.J. Pollock, D'backs (first)
AL: Kevin Kiermaier, Rays (first)

Right field
NL: Jason Heyward, Cardinals (second straight, third overall)
AL: Kole Calhoun, Angels (first)

Pitcher
NL: RHP Zack Greinke, Dodgers (second straight)
AL: LHP Dallas Keuchel, Astros (second straight)