Author: Tim Dierkes

This is a sponsored post from Rawlings.

In case you missed it last week, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., announced the finalists for the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award®, honoring the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American League® and National League®.

The winners will be unveiled during a one-hour, special-edition “Baseball Tonight” broadcast on ESPN Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Background:

While the award originated in 1957, Rawlings first began highlighting the top-three defenders at each position as finalists in 2011. This season, the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals lead the AL with four finalists each, and the Arizona Diamondbacks top the NL with five finalists.

“The announcement of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists each year creates so much excitement for our brand and the sport of baseball, not to mention for the talented athletes that are selected as the top defenders at their respective positions,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer of Rawlings. “We look forward to recognizing the winners of the highly coveted Rawlings Gold Glove Awards in a few weeks, but until then, we’ll enjoy the banter amongst fans as to who is most deserving at each position.”

 

How Finalists Are Selected:

To determine the winners of the 18 defensive position Awards, each team’s manager and up to six coaches on his staff vote from a pool of qualified players in their League and cannot vote for players from their own team. In 2013, Rawlings added the SABR Defensive Index™ (SDI) to the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process, which comprises approximately 25 percent of the overall selection total, with the managers’ and coaches’ votes continuing to carry the majority.

To identify the utility Award winners, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to create a specialized defensive formula separate from the traditional selection process for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award position winners. Utilizing the SABR formula and additional defensive statistics, Rawlings will select one utility winner from each League.

2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists – American League

Pitcher

• Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
• Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
• Griffin Canning, Los Angeles Angels

Catcher

• Freddy Fermin, Kansas City Royals
• Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
• Jake Rogers, Detroit Tigers

First Base

• Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles
• Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers
• Carlos Santana, Minnesota Twins

Second Base

• Nicky Lopez, Chicago White Sox
• Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
• Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians

Third Base

• Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
• José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
• Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

Shortstop

• Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
• Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees
• Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians

Left Field

• Alex Verdugo, New York Yankees
• Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles
• Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Center Field

• Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
• Jake Meyers, Houston Astros
• Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

Right Field

• Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox
• Juan Soto, New York Yankees
• Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels

Utility

• Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros
• Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
• Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners

2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Finalists – National League

Pitcher

• Luis Severino, New York Mets
• Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
• Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

Catcher

• Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
• Gabriel Moreno, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

First Base

• Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
• Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
• Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks

Second Base

• Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers
• Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies

Third Base

• Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
• Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
• Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants

Shortstop

• Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
• Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs
• Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies

Left Field

• Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks
• Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies

Center Field

• Jacob Young, Washington Nationals
• Brenton Doyle, Colorado Rockies
• Blake Perkins, Milwaukee Brewers

Right Field

• Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers
• Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants

Utility

• Kiké Hernández, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
• Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates

The 2024 finalists include seven former Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners in the American League and ten former winners in the National League.

Following the Rawlings Gold Glove Award televised announcement special on ESPN, Sunday, Nov. 3, fans can vote for their favorite defensive player in each league to determine who will be named the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™ winners. A combination of the national fan vote and the SDI will determine who takes home the honor.

Voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award presented by SABR will begin online at www.Rawlings.com on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 9:30 p.m. ET and will remain open until Thursday, Nov. 7, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony in New York City, on Friday, Nov. 8.

About the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® is a registered trademark owned by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. The award is correctly identified as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The name should not be shortened, abbreviated, or otherwise misused. Proper identification of this service mark using the registration symbol and the Rawlings name is important to protect the integrity of the program and perpetuate this worthy tradition. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.

About Rawlings®
Established in 1887, Rawlings is an innovative leading global brand and manufacturer of premium baseball and softball equipment, including gloves, balls, and protective headwear. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings.
Rawlings is the official glove, baseball, helmet and faceguard, and base of Major League Baseball, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball and the official baseball and softball of the NCAA and NAIA, and the official softball of the NJCAA. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.

This is a sponsored post from BetterHelp.

Get Matched to the Best Therapist for You. Self-Care is Focusing on Your Mental Health

What’s an important holiday you might not know about? World Mental Health Day on October 10th – encouraging all of us to talk about and take care of our mental health since 1992.

The Mental Health Of Athletes: Statistics, Self-Care, And Support

Athletes often experience high pressure, busy schedules, and exposure to harmful stigmas and stereotypes that can lead to mental health conditions or chronic stress and burnout.

If you’re an athlete, there are various ways you can practice self-care to improve your mental health.

Mental health challenges common in athletes

Up to 35% of elite professional athletes are living with a mental illness, and student-athletes and those who participate in athletics for pleasure are also at risk. Below are statistics on the most common mental health conditions in athletes.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders may be more common in athletes due to pervasive stereotypes about what an athlete’s body “should” look like. In addition, bullying or rejection from teammates, coaches, and team supporters can lead to individuals experiencing fear of shame or the loss of their athlete status if they gain weight, lose muscle, or experience bodily changes.

Depression

One study found that the prevalence of depression in athletes is around 15.6% to 21%. The same study reported that athletes who were at a higher risk of depressive disorders were those with sports injuries, those who had been terminated from their career as athletes, and those rated poorly in performance. Depression can lead to a higher suicide risk in athletes, so therapy is often recommended.

Anxiety

Research by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) found that almost 85% of certified athletic trainers believe anxiety disorders are an issue for student-athletes. Other studies report that sports can lead to high levels of stress and pressure, which can cause anxiety.

Substance use disorders

According to studies, medication and alcohol misuse are the most common forms of substance use in athletes. Athletes may self-medicate due to other mental health challenges, physical pain, or difficulty sleeping. In addition, “sports culture” can sometimes lead to social pressure to drink or take other substances. Breaking down stigmas on a societal and team level can be a way to reduce these challenges.

How to practice self-care as an athlete

If you’re an athlete, whether you practice for fun or are in an elite team, there are a few self-care tips you can consider.

Prioritize mental health as much as physical health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental healthcare can reduce the risk of physical illnesses like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. To prioritize your mental health, pay attention to what your emotions tell you, learn about self-care, take breaks when needed, and address your stress when it arises.

Challenge harmful practices, stigma, and misconceptions

Stigmas, harmful practices, and misconceptions are common in athletic communities. Below are some ways to challenge these:

• Refuse substance use if you’re not interested in partaking, and encourage teammates and other athletes to value bodily autonomy
• Speak up when someone uses a stereotype or stigmatizing term
• Report abusive or unethical team practices imposed in professional environments
• Speak up against transphobia in sports
• Share your own story about mental health and what helped you cope
• Be open about stress and stress management
• Take steps to address toxic masculinity in athletics
• Be accepting of the religious and cultural practices of team members
• Seek therapy and be open about it with others

Nurture a strong support system

Having a support system can significantly reduce mental health challenges, leading to increased wellness and quality of life and a reduced risk of physical illness. Nurture your support system by ensuring you spend quality time with those you love outside of a sports context.

How to find professional support as an athlete

Therapy can be an effective tool for reducing stress and the chances of mental burnout in athletes. For those facing barriers to in-person therapy, online platforms like BetterHelp may be more accessible. Through an online platform, athletes can access resources like support groups and worksheets and weekly therapy with a provider via phone, video, or live chat.

Studies show that online therapy can be effective in treating conditions commonly seen in athletes, like anxiety and depression. In one study, online therapy was found to be more effective in symptom reduction for these conditions than face-to-face therapy.

Takeaway

For those who are struggling, mental health treatment may be beneficial. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength, and over 41.7 million US adults see a therapist. By talking to a professional, you can develop ways to cope productively with your challenges and potentially receive referrals to other support options, such as psychiatry or support groups.