Astros' Keuchel, Altuve both win Gold Gloves after standout seasons
The Houston Astros' successful 2015 season continues to have positive consequences for the upstart team.
On Tuesday, pitcher Dallas Keuchel and second baseman Jose Altuve were both announced as recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, given to the top defensive performers at each position on the diamond.
Congrats #Astros ace @kidkeuchy, back-to-back AL #GoldGlove Award winner! #GoBeardOrGoHome pic.twitter.com/S7bUhxpJXM
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 11, 2015
Congrats #Astros 2B @JoseAltuve27, American League #GoldGlove Award winner! #Hustle pic.twitter.com/hBG9a8j8fv
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 11, 2015
For Keuchel, this was his second consecutive Gold Glove, while this was the first time Altuve was given the honor.
Keuchel, who also has a great chance to be named the AL Cy Young winner when that's announced soon, was excited for Altuve...as he told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart:
"I'm extremely excited," Keuchel said of Altuve. "I just texted him. He deserves everything he gets. He's a tremendous worker. He's one of those guys who's had to work for everything, like myself, so I think we have a common bond there. We know the competitive end one another shares, and I can't be more happy for that guy."
As McTaggart broke down, Altuve won the award in part because he led all MLB second basemen in fielding percentage (.993), having only committed five errors all season. That fielding percentage passed Bill Doran, who held the franchise's previous single-season high at second base after posting .992 mark in 1987. Keuchel, meanwhile, made only one error and led American League pitchers with 72 chances and had the foruth-most putouts with 18. His fielding percentage was .986.
As Keuchel told McTaggart, he takes tremendous pride in his defensive skills on the mound:
"A lot of people don't understand how close 60 feet, six inches is, and after you deliver the ball, you're even close to the mound," Keuchel said. "People don't realize how hard it is for a pitcher to be good at his position."
"It's definitely something I take great pride in," Keuchel said of his defense. "I was a big fan of the Atlanta Braves growing up, and my favorite pitcher was John Smoltz. His teammate, Greg Maddux, had won 13 straight Gold Gloves at the time, and I wanted to be just like those guys. To get my second one, it's just as special as the first, and it's something that won't get old if I continue to achieve this."
Shortstop Carlos Correa, by the way, is up for the AL Rookie of the Year award after his flashy and attention-getting start to his MLB career.
