Former Reno Aces Christian Walker Wins First Career Gold Glove Award

November 1, 2022 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) – Reno Aces News Release

RENO, Nev. – Former Reno Aces’ and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker has been named the winner of the 2022 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award®, as announced by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. The award recognizes the best defensive players at their respective positions as voted by Major League Baseball managers and coaches.

Walker, 31, is Arizona’s first Gold Glove winner since a franchise-record three winners in 2019 with Nick Ahmed (SS), David Peralta (LF) and Zack Greinke (P) and the second D-backs first baseman to earn the accolade along with Paul Goldschmidt (2013, ’15, ’17).

Since 2015, the D-backs are third in the Majors with 11 Gold Glove Award winners, behind the Cardinals (13) and Royals (12).

Walker led all first basemen with 17 defensive runs saved (DRS), 11 more than Matt Olson/ATL (6) and Alfonso Rivas/CHC (6), marking the most by a first baseman since Joey Votto’s 18 in 2017 (source: The Fielding Bible).

Walker’s 17 DRS tied for fifth among NL infielders with SS Miguel Rojas/MIA, behind 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes/PIT (24), 2B Brendan Rodgers/COL (22), 3B Nolan Arenado/STL (19) and 2B Tommy Edman/STL (18) (source: The Fielding Bible).

Walker’s 14 Outs Above Average (OAA) ranked fourth among NL infielders, trailing SS Dansby Swanson/ATL (21), Edman (19), Hayes (18) and Arenado (15) (source: Baseball Savant).

Walker led Major League first basemen with a 12.2 SABR Defensive Index (SDI), 10.1 points higher than second place Luis Arraez/MIN (2.1).

The SABR Defensive Index draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts, including data from MLBAM’s Statcast, Sports Info Solutions, and STATS Perform. The SABR Defensive Index accounts for approximately 25 percent of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process that was added to the votes from the managers and coaches.

Walker will have an opportunity for further recognition with the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award® fan vote, which allows fans across the country to vote for the best defender in each league. Voting will end on rawlings.com on Wed., Nov. 9 at 8:59 p.m. MST. Fans can only select one player for each league among the 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winners to take home the “best of the best” honor.

The Reno Aces are slated to open the 2023 season at Greater Nevada Field on Friday, March 31st, against the Las Vegas Aviators, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com, texting “MEMBER” to 21003, or calling 775-334-7000.

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