Cubs left fielder Ian Happ wins third straight Gold Glove Award

Cubs left fielder Ian Happ was the team's lone Gold Glove winner this year, taking home the award for the third straight season.

Rawlings revealed the winners Sunday evening. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was also a finalist, but the Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar claimed the honor among National League shortstops. Happ beat out fellow NL left-field finalists Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Brandon Marsh.

Happ became the first outfielder to win three Gold Glove awards with the Cubs. Jason Heyward (2016, 2017) and Andre Dawson (1987, 1988) each won two. The last Cub to win Gold Gloves in three consecutive seasons was Anthony Rizzo in 2018-2020.

"Anytime in this organization that's been around for so long, when you get your name mentioned that like that, first do something, it's always pretty cool," Happ said in a video conference Sunday. "So, a lot of hard work. And being able to do it three straight times is a really special accomplishment."

Happ finished the season with 11 outfield assists, tied with the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds for the most in the National League. Happ also led NL left fielders with eight defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.

"Throwing was really good the last two years," Happ said when asked what he was most proud of in his defensive performance this year. "And so maintaining that and having that be consistent was great. And kind of bouncing back from last year to having a better year tracking down the baseball and going to catch the balls ... to be able to put both those together again like I did in '22."

Happ, who broke into the majors as a utility player, has benefited from positional stability over the past three seasons. He’s won a gold glove every year since moving to left field full time before the 2022 season.