Outstanding defense is part of the “secret sauce” that helped the Cleveland Guardians win the AL Central Division and advance to baseball’s final four.

Second baseman Andres Gimenez and left fielder Steven Kwan won Gold Glove awards for the third time, as Major League Baseball announced on Sunday.

Jose Ramirez was a finalist at third base, but Houston’s Alex Bregman won the award for the first time.

Brayan Rocchio also received a nomination for Cleveland at shortstop, but Bobby Witt Jr. of Kansas City took the honor.

Remember Carlos Santana? He played for the Cleveland Indians from 2010 to 2017, and then again in 2019 and 2020. He won his first Gold Glove at first base for Minnesota.

The other American League Gold Glove winners are all first-time honorees:

·      Cal Raleigh (Seattle catcher)

·      Daulton Varsho (Toronto center fielder)

·      Wilyer Abreu (Boston right fielder)

·      Seth Lugo (Kansas City pitcher)

·      Dylan Moore (Seattle utility player)

I didn’t know utility guys won Gold Gloves, but here we are.

NL GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

Matt Chapman won his fifth Gold Glove at third base for the San Francisco Giants.

Arizona first baseman Christian Walker and Cubs left fielder Ian Happ won their third each, while Colorado center fielder Brenton Doyle won his second.

First-time winners in the National League were the following:

·      Patrick Bailey (San Francisco catcher)

·      Brice Turang (Milwaukee second baseman)

·      Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado shortstop)

·      Sal Frelick (Milwaukee right fielder)

·      Chris Sale (Atlanta pitcher)

·      Jared Triolo (Pittsburgh utility player)