ARLINGTON — Long gone are the days when Marcus Semien was seen as a below average defensive middle infielder. In fact, it has been years since that was the case.
On Sunday, Semien was rewarded again with the Rawlings AL Gold Glove Award at second base. It’s the second career Gold Glove for the 35-year-old, whose first came in 2021 with the Blue Jays during his first full season at the position.
Semien is the first second baseman in Senators/Rangers franchise history to win the award.
Though Semien was the lone Rangers Gold Glove winner this year, four teammates joined him as finalists — pitcher Jacob deGrom, shortstop Corey Seager, right fielder Adolis García and left fielder Wyatt Langford. The 2025 Rangers were one of the best defenses in baseball and set a single-season MLB record for team fielding percentage at .99112, passing the 2013 Orioles (.99104).
“In spite of our offensive struggles, I commend our position players for the way they defended this year,” said Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young. “They never took their at-bats out into the field. They gave us a chance. In fact, we were a record-setting defensive team in terms of plays converted to outs.”
Semien missed the final five weeks of the season because of a left foot bruise. In 127 games, he collected 5 defensive runs saved and 7 outs above average, both of which led the AL. His .996 fielding percentage was also the best in the AL.
Semien was a shortstop in Chicago and Oakland — where he improved dramatically under the tutelage of Ron Washington — before joining the Blue Jays on a one-year contract in 2021. He slid over to second base to make room for up-and-coming Toronto prospect Bo Bichette at shortstop.
Semien didn’t just succeed in the position change — he has won a pair of Gold Glove Awards at second base, where he’s been an anchor for the Rangers over four seasons.
