Kansas City Royals: Salvador Perez is Gold Glove Finalist

With the 2018 season coming to a close, the Gold Glove finalists for each position were announced. At the catcher position, Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals was selected by the MLB and Rawlings as a finalist.

Salvador Perez is one of two Kansas City Royals players selected as a Gold Glove finalist. Nominated along with Perez was Martin Maldonado of the Los Angeles Angels and the Houston Astros, and Yan Gomes from the Cleveland Indians.

Perez has won four Gold Gloves throughout his time in the majors so far. Though he missed the entire first month of the season, how does he stack up against the competition?

Salvador Perez

Perez played a total of 831 innings on the season. He threw out 48 percent of base stealers. Salvy accounted for 10.7 defensive runs saved during the 2018 season for the Kansas City Royals.

Martin Maldonado

Maldonado is the reigning Gold Glove champion at the catcher position in the American League. He had the best percentage of catching base stealers this season in the entire Major League, tossing out 49 percent of those trying to secure an extra base on him.

He accounted for 11.3 defensive runs saved on the 2018 campaign combined between the Angels and most currently, the Houston Astros.

Yan Gomes

Gomes played 948.2 innings on the season and accounted for 8.0 defensive runs saved during the 2018 campaign. Of the three finalists for the award, he is the selection that had some fans scratching their heads.

How much of a shot does Perez have?

It seems that Salvador Perez has the best chance to challenge Martin Maldonado for the title of the American League Gold Glove catcher for the 2018 Major League Baseball season.

He was right behind Maldonado for caught stealing percentage and had nearly as many defensive runs saved on the season.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 4 on a special edition of Baseball Tonight.