• San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford turns a double play over Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier (16) on a ground ball from Chase Utley during the 11th inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford turns a double play over Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier (16) on a ground ball from Chase Utley during the 11th inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) less
Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons appeared as if he might hold a decade-long lock on the National League Gold Glove award, but in something of a surprise, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was named the recipient Tuesday.
Simmons won the honors each of the past two seasons, including the Platinum Glove for being the league’s top overall defensive player in 2014. He had the best defensive WAR in the NL again in 2015, edging out Crawford 3.5 to 2.9., and he had a higher fielding percentage, a league-best .988, compared to Crawford’s .979.
Managers and coaches vote on the award but cannot vote for players on their own club. The Society for American Baseball Research Defensive Index is also a component of the award, and that’s where Crawford shined, with a 16.1; fellow finalist Adeiny Hechavarria of the Marlins was second among NL shortstops, at 11.6 and Simmons third at 10.1.
Crawford, 28, is the first Giants shortstop since Omar Vizquel to win a Gold Glove. Vizquel won in 2005-6.
The Giants had three other Gold Glove finalists, catcher Buster Posey, first baseman Brandon Belt and rookie third basemanMatt Duffy. Duffy was named a finalist for the NL Rookie of the Year award Tuesday; Kris Bryant of the Cubs is the frontrunner for the award, which will be announced Monday.
The A’s had two finalists: starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who set a franchise record for single-season putouts by a pitcher, and right fielder Josh Reddick. Reddick was the A’s last winner, getting a Gold Glove in 2012.
Gray had 37 putouts, breaking the A’s record set in 1901 by Chick Fraser; they were the most in the majors by a pitcher sinceKevin Brown’s 41 for the Dodgers in 1999. Gray didn’t make an error in 60 chances, the second most in Oakland history by a pitcher with no errors after Rick Langford’s 62 errorless chances in 1979.