The best defender in the Pac-12 may also be the best defensive shortstop in the country.
Arizona’s Nik McClaughry is one of three finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, given annually to the top fielder at every position in college baseball. The other finalists are Jim Jarvis of Alabama and Grant Smith of Kentucky, and the winner will be announced Wednesday.
McClaughry, a senior, led the Pac-12 with 180 assists and helped turn 27 of Arizona’s 46 double plays. He committed five errors in 280 chances, for a .980 fielding percentage, becoming the UA’s first P12 DPOY since Alex Mejia in 2012.