OTTAWA- Two Canadian big-leaguers were recognized by Rawlings yesterday for their fine defensive play during the 2014 Major League Baseball regular season as Russell Martin (Montréal, QC) of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) of the Colorado Rockies were named as finalists in the National League for Gold Gloves at catcher and first base, respectively.
Martin is joined by six-time gold glove winner Yadier Molina (Cardinals) and Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers) as finalists for the award that will be announced on November 4th.
A gold glove winner in 2007, while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martin led all catchers in throwing out would-be base stealers at a 37% success rate and had a .994 fielding percentage in 107 games played. He led the Pirates to their second consecutive postseason berth and helped their pitching staff to a combined 3.28 earned run average.
The three-time All-Star also enjoyed a tremendous season, offensively hitting .290 with 11 home runs and 67 RBIs.
Morneau, who joins National League first basemen Adrian Gonzalez and Adam LaRoche as finalists for the gold glove award that will also be announced on November 4th, spent 2014 with the Colorado Rockies in his first full season in the National League.
The 2006 American League MVP took the Mile-High City by storm winning the National League batting title with a .319 average, but also quietly led all National League first basemen with a .997 fielding percentage.
Hampered by various injuries since 2010, the 33 year-old enjoyed a healthy season for the most part in 2014 playing in 135 games that saw him belt 17 homers and drive in 82 runs.
Morneau is part of a trio of Rockies players nominated for gold glove awards joining teammates 3B Nolan Arenado and 2B DJ LeMahieu.
Both Martin and Morneau are graduates of Baseball Canada’s Junior National Team program and have participated in other National Teams events throughout their careers.
