LOS ANGELES -- As perhaps befits the team with the best regular-season record -- and one now just two wins away from a World Series title -- the Red Sox had five players named as finalists for Gold Glove awards Thursday, the most of any team.
First baseman Mitch Moreland, second baseman Ian Kinsler, all three members of the Boston outfield -- left fielder Andrew Benintendi, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and right fielder Mookie Betts -- were named as finalists for the honors.
Moreland won a Gold Glove with Texas in 2017. Kinsler, who played the first two-thirds of the season for the Los Angeles Angels, has won once before. Betts has already won twice. Neither Bradley nor Benintendi has won previously.
Manager Alex Cora was happy to have his players recognized but thought Sandy Leon was deserving of a nomination, too. The catcher nominees are: Cleveland's Yan Gomes, Houston's Martin Maldanado (last year's winner) and Kansas City's Salvador Perez.
The awards, given annually by Rawlings and Major League Baseball, features three finalists for each position. The voting is done by managers and coaches, who may not vote for their own players. Winners will be announced in early November.
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