Manny Machado wins AL Gold Glove at third base (with quotes)

For the second time in his career, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner. The results were announced tonight during a live broadcast on ESPN2.

Machado won over the other two American League finalists - Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays and Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers.

Machado also won a Gold Glove at third in 2013 when he also was awarded a Platinum Glove, which goes to the best fielder in each league. His Gold Glove two years ago made him the first Oriole to win the award at third base since Brooks Robinson in 1975.

This year, Machado led all AL third basemen in total chances per nine innings (3.21), range factor per nine innings (3.09) and range factor per game (3.01). He finished second among AL third basemen in assists (337), putouts (132), putouts per nine innings (0.87) and assists per nine innings (2.22), and he was fourth in zone rating (.810).

Machado did make a career-high 21 errors this year, including 19 in 488 chances at third base, but nine came in his first 38 games. As usual, he displayed one of the best, if not the best, throwing arms in the sport.

Machado was the only Orioles Gold Glove finalist this year. This will end their streak of winning two or more Gold Gloves every year since 2011. The Orioles had three winners each of the last three years with J.J. Hardy at shortstop, Adam Jones in center field and Nick Markakis in right field taking Gold Gloves last year. Since the award began in 1957, the Orioles have the second most Gold Gloves with 70, trailing only the St. Louis Cardinals with 85 through 2014.

On the ESPN2 telecast, Machado talked about winning the award over the other finalists.

"You are talking about two of the best in the game on defense," he said. "I've learned from those guys. When I first moved over to third base, I used to watch a lot of video on them. See how they go about their pre-pitch and how they go about their routine and I just tried to put it in my own way."

Machado was asked about his offseason program where he takes some ground balls at shortstop to get ready to play third during the year.

"I think the biggest key is trying to move your feet. I know third is more of a reactionary position. But my offseason routine is kind of just catch grounders at short just so I can get my feet moving and get into that momentum of getting your feet under you to catch the ball. Doing that every year in the offseason helps me go into spring training ready to go," he said.

According to FanGraphs.com, Machado finished second among AL third basemen with 14 defensive runs saved, and third in defensive runs above average (10.8) and ultimate zone rating (8.4) in 2015.

He becomes the second third baseman in club history to win the award multiple times along with Robinson, who won 16 Gold Glove Awards. The Orioles have won at least one Gold Glove in each of the last five seasons, the second-longest such streak in club history. In that span, five different Orioles have won a total of 12 Gold Gloves.