If Jason Heyward were under contract with the Braves for as long as Andrelton Simmons is, the duo could probably surpass the five consecutive seasons that Andruw Jones and Greg Maddux both won Gold Gloves as teammates. The current pair is that good.
Heyward and Simmons each won his second National League Gold Glove award Tuesday, the second time in 11 years that multiple Braves won the award in the same season. Braves outfielders Jones and Jeff Francoeur did it in 2007.
The Braves’ Justin Upton was a Gold Glove finalist in left field, but Miami’s Christian Yelich won that award. The Braves have never had three Gold Glove winners in the same season.
Kansas City and Baltimore each had three Gold Glove winners: catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Eric Hosmer and left fielder Alex Gordon for the Royals, and shortstop J.J. Hardy and outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis for the Orioles.
Simmons has won Gold Gloves in each of his first two full seasons in the majors, and also won the 2013 Platinum Glove as the NL’s best defender regardless of position. He’s only the second infielder in franchise history to win multiple Gold Gloves, joining second baseman Felix Millan (1969, 1972). Gold Gloves were first awarded in 1957.
For Heyward it’s his second Gold Glove in three seasons, and he and Simmons are candidates along with Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina for the Platinum Glove to be presented Friday. Fan voting for the award runs through Wednesday night at platinumglove.rawlings.com.
Heyward led all major leaguers in Defensive Runs Saved with 32, while Simmons (28) tied Mets Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares for second in that category after Simmons led with 41 in 2013. Simmons’ 69 Defensive Runs Saved over the past two seasons is more than the next four shortstops combined.
Heyward didn’t win a Gold Glove in 2013, when he shifted between right field and center field because of injuries to teammates. He played exclusively right field in 2014, and his combination of speed, range and strong arm set him apart from most at the position. He’s also shown he can play a fine center field if the Braves need to move him there, despite being much larger (6 feet 5, 245 pounds) than most who play that demanding position.
Simmons, who turned 25 in September, is a spectacular defender, widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop of the past decade or more. He signed a seven-year, $58 million contract extension in March.
Heyward, who turned 25 in August, signed a two-year deal last spring that runs through the 2015 season, after which he’ll be a free agent unless the Braves sign him to an extension first.
Maddux won a record 18 Gold Gloves, including 10 in a row with the Braves through 2002, when then-teammate Mike Hampton snapped the streak. Andruw Jones won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves through 2007.
