Mets Secure Three Gold Glove Finalist Nominations: Carson Benge, Luis Torrens, and Nolan McLean

[Brandon Glick]

The 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists have been announced, and the New York Mets have three nominations to celebrate.

First up is rookie pitcher Nolan McLean, who did an excellent job fielding his position on the mound. He finished third among all NL pitchers with +4 Defensive Runs Saved, though he did make three errors on the season. His competition is Chris Sale (Braves) and Michael McGreevy (Cardinals).

Next is "backup" catcher Luis Torrens, who continues to supply tremendous value from behind the plate. Despite playing fewer than 700 innings at the position this year, he ranked second among all NL backstops with +12 DRS and +9 Fielding Run Value. The other finalists are Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks) and Freddy Fermin (Padres).

Last but certainly not least we have rookie outfielder Carson Benge, who can add yet another feather to his cap after an all-around brilliant rookie year. He finished fourth among NL right fielders in DRS (+6) and second in FRV (+6), though his lackluster range (-1 Out Above Average) might have hurt his case with voters.

The winners will be revealed on Nov. 1.

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[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Would be nice to see one of the Mets get this! Maybe Benge's highlight reel throws and diving catches will help a little! 

[Edgy MD]

This is good.

It'll be hard for Carson Benge to beat out Seiya Suzuki or Carroll (and nobody can touch Wilyer Abreu in the American League), but Torrens is in something close to a dead heat or better with Gabriel Moreno of the Diamondbacks.

Playing only 86 games will count against him, but it's a new world, and only two NL catchers caught as many as 120 games this year and none caught 130.  Moreno caught just 104 himself.

[Frayed Knot]

1 hour ago, Edgy MD said:

Playing only 86 games will count against him, but it's a new world, and only two NL catchers caught as many as 120 games this year and none caught 130.  Moreno caught just 104 himself.

All of which brings Todd's pop to mind.

In 1968, Cubs catcher Randy Hundley caught 160 games. He was the starting catcher in 156 of those, caught a CG 146 times (which included 10 extra inning games totaling 24 extra innings) and in those ten games where he was removed prior to the final out seven of the ten came in the 8th or 9th innings* so he played close to a full game.

Hundley caught 149, 152, 160, and then 151 games for four straight seasons but then never topped 125 again. Not sure if the team was learning any lessons or whether they just plumb wore the boy out. The 441 total games he played over the final eight years of his career were nearly 40% fewer than his total for the four preceding years.

 

 

 

* also was removed once in the 4th inning (at Shea immediately following a Ron Swoboda steal of home so probably there was a collision); once in the 6th (in Wrigley with Cubs getting blown out by StL in mid-August); and once in the 7th (down 5 - 1 in Atlanta also in August).  

At least the equipment was lighter back then ... oh, no it wasn't. But at least  he could DH now and then ... oh wait, no he couldn't. And at least he didn't have to play 81 home games during the day in the heat of a Chicago  summer ... 

[ashie62]

Three guys setting the trend for better defense 

I hope it is Metagious 

[Edgy MD]

Todd Hundley himself led the league with 150 games caught in 1996.

Brent Mayne was supposed to be sharing the job with him that season, but Todd got red hot the first week and never looked back.

[Fman99]

Mets GG drought goes back to 2014 (Juan Lagares).  It'd be nice to see that streak broken.

[MFS62]

Another post mentioned that Benge had some early games where he didn't take the best routes to fly balls, and voters who saw that may not vote for him. But he's had some highlight reel moments since then (throws and catches), his 10 outfield assists and 2 DP led the league, and those may get him some votes from voters who weren't aware of the earlier stuff. I hope that more than balances out the earlier moments.

 

Gold Gloves for pitchers have been awarded to guys year-after-year. (e.g.- Kaat, Maddux) and it might be hard to break into  that for McLean.

As for Torrens, he's just f'n good.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Since the Gold Glove has incorporated a Sabermetric component in addition to manager and coach voting, one player being locked in as a default vote for extended periods has been less of a problem.

Four guys have won The National League Pitcher version of the award in four years, although Max Freid won it for three years in a row before that.

Ron Darling was the last guy to win before Greg Maddux reeled off 13 in a row (and a hard-to-grasp 18 in 19 years).  Darling was a terrific fielder, but the year he won, he had probably his poorest fielding year as a Met.