Having accomplished so much during the regular season as a team, the Oakland A’s received an individual accolade today as Josh Reddick was named a 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove award winner. Reddick‘s award capped a great season where the unheralded right fielder emerged as a legitimate power hitter and two-way player for the AL West champion A’s.
Reddick‘s win represents the first for an Oakland outfielder since Dwayne Murphy won for his defensive play in 1985. The last Oakland defender to be recognized at any position was former third baseman Eric Chavez after the 2006 season.
In 2012, Reddick compiled 15 assists, the most by an Athletics outfielder in 29 years, tied for third most in Oakland history. He ranked third among American League outfielders in assists and was tied for fifth in double plays for outfielders with three. Buoyed by Reddick, the A’s turned the outfield from a position of weakness in recent years to one of strength, along with center fielder Coco Crisp and rookie Yoenis Cespedes.
Oakland third baseman Brandon Inge was also up for a Gold Glove in 2012, but lost out on the award to Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers. Inge played solid at the hot corner for Oakland and received the nomination despite playing in just 83 total games this year.
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