For the first time since 2015, the Braves will not have a Gold Glove winner.
Ozzie Albies, who the Braves extended to a seven-year deal worth $35 million to start the season, was bypassed as the top defensive second baseman in the National League. The Cardinals' Kolten Wong won his first, the league announced Sunday.
Albies ranked second among NL second basemen in defensive runs saved, with eight.
Josh Donaldson, who led NL third basemen in that category with 15, was the only other Braves player nominated for a Gold Glove this season.
Donaldson — the 2015 AL MVP for his offensive prowess — came up short over Colorado’s Nolan Arenado.
To determine the winners, each manager and up to six coaches on his staff vote from a pool of candidates in their league and cannot vote for players from their own team. In 2013, Rawlings added a sabermetric component to the selection process. The defensive index accounts for 25 percent of the overall selection total, with the managers and coaches’ vote still carrying the majority.
Last season's NL winners included the Braves' Freddie Freeman, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis. Freeman — a first-time winner — shared the award at first base with Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs. Inciarte won the Gold Glove for center fielders in 2016, 2017 and '18. Markakis won it for right fielders last season — it was his third having won twice with the Baltimore Orioles.
Last year’s American League Gold Glove-winning pitcher was Dallas Keuchel, then with the Astros.
