BATON ROUGE, La. – Colorado Rockies’ infielder DJ LeMahieu, who helped lead LSU to the 2009 College World Series title, has been named the 2014 National League Gold Glove Award recipient at second base.
LeMahieu is the first former LSU player to win a Gold Glove Award, which is presented each year to the best defensive player at each position in both the National League and American League.
LeMahieu, a native of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., played at LSU in 2008 and 2009 and signed with the Chicago Cubs after he was selected in the second round of the ’09 MLB Draft. LeMahieu hit .344 during his college career with 24 doubles, five triples, 11 homers and 87 RBI. He was named to the 2009 College World Series All-Tournament team, batting .444 during the Tigers’ drive to the national championship.
The defensive work of LeMahieu was also recognized by the Rockies in 2013, when he was awarded with the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award. LeMahieu, 26, became a regular on highlight reels this season. He edged the Reds’ Brandon Phillips, who won four of the previous six Gold Gloves at second base.
Phillies veteran second baseman Chase Utley also was a nominee. The pedigree of the competition had LeMahieu not necessarily expecting to be elected. But plays like one on July 2 at Washington — when LeMahieu made a diving grab of an Anthony Rendon grounder behind second base and made a glove flip to Troy Tulowitzki, who made a barehand catch and throw for the double play — helped solidify LeMahieu’s reputation.
“That was definitely the best play of the year,” LeMahieu said. “That was both of us knowing how each other reacts, how we interact together, how we play together. That was definitely the most fun play of the year.
“I played every day, and wanted to be a good teammate, play for my teammates. To be recognized by the rest of the league for doing that, that’s really cool.”
LeMahieu led NL second basemen in defensive runs saved with 16 and in double plays with 99. LeMahieu was second in assists with 413.