The Rawlings Gold Glove Award ceremony lit up New York on Friday night as the 2024 Platinum Glove and Gold Glove Team Award winners were unveiled, marking a night of triumph for some defenders who truly shone this season.

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh took home the American League Platinum Glove, while Brewers second baseman Brice Turang claimed the honor for the National League. This distinction recognizes the crème de la crème of fielders in both leagues.

Highlighting the ceremony were 14 first-time Gold Glove recipients, illustrating a fresh wave of defensive talent. The Toronto Blue Jays snagged the AL Gold Glove Team Award, standing atop the AL as the best fielding team in 2024, while the Milwaukee Brewers mirrored that success in the NL.

Raleigh, a newcomer to the Gold Glove club this season and the very first Mariners catcher to earn such a title, also etched his name in history as the first Mariner to win the Platinum Glove since the award started in 2011. Making it a night to remember in Milwaukee, Turang follows suit as the Brewers’ inaugural Platinum Glove winner.

Like Raleigh, the Milwaukee second baseman is a first-time Gold Glover, breaking new ground for Brewers infielders with this accolade.

Flashback to last year, and you’ll find Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez taking home the prestigious Platinum Glove honors, showcasing the high bar set for elite defenders.

Zooming in on Raleigh’s performance, the numbers tell a story of sheer excellence. He set the standard for MLB catchers this year by handling the most games (135) and innings caught (1,122).

In the AL, he led catchers with 17 Defensive Runs Saved, emerging as a premier pitch framer. Statcast’s framing metrics credit him with a remarkable +13 runs saved through superior framing.

Raleigh shared insights into his approach at a “Gold Carpet” event, saying, “You’re just trying to give the best visual possible…You want good presentation, and you’re really just trying to keep everything in the zone as long as possible.”

Turning to Turang, the Brewers’ defensive powerhouse led all MLB fielders with an impressive 22 Defensive Runs Saved in 2024, a testament to his pervasive presence on the field. This stat wasn’t limited to just second basemen; it included every fielder out there.

Furthermore, his performance in Baseball Reference’s Defensive Wins Above Replacement secured him the top spot among NL defenders. Reflecting on his defensive prowess, Turang remarked, “The first step really matters…the main thing is winning.

If I can help my team win, I’ll do it any way possible.”

Thanks to Turang’s brilliance, the Brewers clinched the NL Gold Glove Team Award for the second year running, with an impressive tally of 64 Defensive Runs Saved, placing them second in the NL. Their prowess didn’t stop there—the Brewers also ranked third in MLB and second in the NL for Statcast’s Outs Above Average, boasting +31.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays claimed the AL Gold Glove Team Award for the second consecutive year, leading the charge with an MLB-high of 102 Defensive Runs Saved. Close on the Brewers’ heels, the Jays ranked second in the AL for Outs Above Average, with a stellar +26.

It’s clear that both of these teams have set a defensive standard that’s hard to match, combining team dynamics with individual brilliance to dominate the fielding landscape this season.