Who wouldn’t want to add a little gold to their collection?
Known primarily for his bat, Chourio also brings a quick first step and good speed to the outfield to go along with his 60-grade defense. Only 18 years old, the Venezuela native and Brewers phenom climbed three Minor League levels in 2022, rising from Single-A Carolina all the way to Double-A Biloxi at the end of the campaign. All 86 of Chourio’s appearances came in center, where he amassed six assists and 239 putouts in nearly 750 innings.
After missing all but six games during his pro debut in 2021, Crow-Armstrong not only rebounded with an All-Star-worthy campaign offensively in his first action in the Cubs organization, but also shined in the outfield. The 19th overall selection in the 2020 Draft matched Chourio with six assists — all from center field — and used his 60-grade speed to cover an immense amount of ground during his nearly 800 innings in the outfield. While offensive prowess certainly contributed to him rising through Single-A Myrtle Beach to High-A South Bend, Crow-Armstrong’s defense will be one of his calling cards.
Rounding out the outfield trio of Top 100 talent is the Rangers’ Evan Carter, who enjoyed a breakout campaign on both sides of the ball during his first full-season campaign. A second-round Draft pick in 2020, the 20-year-old began the year with High-A Hickory and finished with Double-A Frisco. Carter’s relatively low total of three assists can be largely traced to a strong arm that is already giving pause to baserunners and base coaches around the Minors. As with Chourio and Crow-Armstrong, the Tennessee native spent a majority of his time in center field, where he appeared 74 times.
Tampa Bay’s Williams proved he was up to the task despite playing one of the most demanding positions on the field as an 18 and 19-year-old in Single-A. The 28th overall pick in 2021 possessed such a strong arm coming out of high school, some evaluators thought pitching would be his ticket in the pros. Instead, Williams uses that arm strength, a quick first step and strong tools to play a smooth shortstop, a position many feel he will continue to excel at as he moves forward.
Here is the full list of 2022 Minor League Gold Glove winners:
C: Patrick Bailey (SF No. 12), Eugene
1B: Joe Naranjo (CLE NR), Lake County
2B: Jesus Bastidas, (NYY NR), Somerset
SS: Carson Williams (TB No. 3/MLB No. 81), Charleston
3B: Casey Schmitt (SF No. 6), Eugene/Richmond/Sacramento
OF: Jackson Chourio (MIL No. 1/MLB No. 10), Carolina/Wisconsin/Biloxi
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 30), Myrtle Beach/South Bend
OF: Evan Carter (TEX No. 3/MLB No. 56), Hickory/Frisco
P: Reese Olson (DET No. 9), Erie