5 Former Omaha Players Gold Glove Finalists

Major League Baseball and Rawlings announced on Thursday the finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, with five players, including four 2017 Kansas City Royals, receiving recognition. Royals catcher Salvador Perez , first baseman Eric Hosmer , left fielder Alex Gordon and center fielder Lorenzo Cain were joined by Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke as the five Omaha alums named among the finalists.

Perez has earned Gold Glove honors in each of the last four seasons, including the Platinum Glove last year, given to the top defender in their respective circuit. The backstop nabbed 20 of 74 would-be basestealers this season while recording a .993 fielding percentage in 115 games at the catching position. Perez participated in 24 games with the Omaha Storm Chasers between the 2011-12 campaigns, batting .337 (33-98) with 16 runs, seven doubles, one homer and 17 RBI, retiring four of 17 runners attempting a stolen base.
Hosmer is a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, earning those honors between the 2013-15 seasons. In 2017 he accumulated a .997 fielding percentage, recording just four errors in 1,314 chances at first base. The fielding percentage and four miscues both matched career-highs from the 2015 campaign when Hosmer won his last Gold Glove. He totaled three errors in 232 total chances with the Storm Chasers between the 2011 and 2014 seasons.
Gordon earned Gold Glove honors in four consecutive years between 2011-14. All told in the outfield he combined for a .991 fielding percentage, along with eight outfield assists. Over parts of four seasons with Omaha, including in 2015-16 for Major League Rehab Assignments, Gordon has participated in 96 contests and committed nine errors, four of which came as a third baseman in 2009.
Cain has not won a Gold Glove Award in his career, though he is still known as one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball. In 2017 he was charged with seven errors to go with a .984 fielding percentage, while recording six outfield assists. Over parts of four seasons with Omaha (2011-12, 14, 16), Cain has been charged for eight errors, while posting 13 outfield assists, with all 13 coming in 2011.
Greinke has received National League Gold Glove honors in each of his last three seasons. The four-time All-Star did not commit an error over 56 chances in 2017, and has been charged with just one miscue dating back through the 2016 campaign. The right-hander in six starts with the Omaha Royals in 2004 did not record a single error.
The 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipients will be announced live on MLB Network on November 17.