Rocco Baldelli, standing confidently behind his desk before Tuesday’s game against Atlanta, stretched out his arms and delivered praise with the enthusiasm of P.T. Barnum or Michael Buffer.
“Prepare to be amazed when you come to the ballpark,” the Twins manager declared. “That’s what Carlos Santana does at first base.”
While Santana has already earned a Silver Slugger award, a Gold Glove has eluded him—though it seems his time is due. Last season, Santana was a close second in voting to Arizona’s Christian Walker when he played with the Brewers. His defensive prowess is backed by impressive metrics, including Statcast’s Outs Above Average, where his rating of 13 currently leads all major league first basemen. This is no fluke; Santana was tied for 10th the year before and fifth the year before that, proving his consistent excellence. Santana has honed his craft for years and deserves recognition.
“There is no better defensive first baseman in the American League than Carlos Santana,” Baldelli asserted. “I’ll stand on my table and say that.”
And verbally, he did.
“There are some very good defenders,” Baldelli continued, “But this guy is a maniac at first base who does nothing but make plays that almost nobody else is gonna make.”
Honestly, Rocco, you shouldn’t be selling Santana so hard to this mild-mannered sportswriter. You need to convince the right people.
Gold Glove awards are voted on by major league managers and up to six coaches per staff. For the most part, they get it right. But like any vote, there are always some results that spark controversy. One such controversy remains the 1999 AL Gold Glove vote.
That year, Rafael Palmeiro, in his first season with the Rangers, won the AL Gold Glove. The catch? He played just 28 games at first base, spending 128 as the designated hitter. But with a career year at the plate—batting .324 with 47 home runs and 148 RBI—voters seemingly focused on his offensive stats and his reputation from the previous season, where he played 159 games at first and won his second Gold Glove. They saw his name and checked the box.
Palmeiro reportedly pocketed a $50,000 bonus for an award many believe he didn’t deserve.
At the time, the Twins’ first baseman was rookie Doug Mientkiewicz, a slick fielder who batted .229 over 118 games that season. Mientkiewicz dazzled with his glove from the moment he reached the majors, displaying the defensive acumen of a seasoned veteran.
It’s a stark reminder that sometimes, the best defender doesn’t always get the recognition they deserve. Hopefully, Carlos Santana’s hard work and standout performance will not go unnoticed this time around.
