Cowser, Mountcastle are Orioles’ finalists for Gold Glove awards

Leftfielder Colton Cowser and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle are the Orioles’ finalists for the Gold Glove awards.

It’s the second consecutive year that Mountcastle is a finalist.

Cowser is joined by Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and New York’s Adam Verdugo. Cowser, who started 91 games in left field, had two assists and made one throwing error. He also started 36 games in center and six in right. He’s also considered a leading candidate for American League Rookie of the Year.

Mountcastle’s competition is Texas’ Nathaniel Lowe and Minnesota’s Carlos Santana.  Mountcastle, who started 108 games at first, was credited with eight defensive runs saved. Last year, he was credited with two.

In 981 1/3 innings, Mountcastle committed three errors, two fielding and one throwing, while starting five double plays.

Each major league manager and up to six coaches per team vote for the awards and cannot vote for players on their own team. That makes up 75 percent of the selection; the other 25 percent is the SABR  Defensive Index.

Last year, Mountcastle was joined by leftfielder Austin Hays and catcher Adley Rutschman as finalists. The last Oriole winner was third baseman Ramón Urías in 2022.

No Oriole first baseman has won since Rafael Palmeiro in 1998. No Oriole leftfielder has won since awards for specific outfield positions began in 2011.

Adam Jones, who won four awards from 2009-2014, and Nick Markakis, who won in 2011 and 2014, were the last Oriole outfielders to win. Centerfielder Paul Blair, who won eight Gold Gloves from 1967-1975, is the only other Oriole outfielder to win.

The winners will be announced on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” on November 3^rd at 8:30 p.m.