Blake Perkins, who spent most of the season with the Brewers, earned a spot as a Gold Glove finalist despite making only 104 starts. While he posted solid defensive metrics, he lacks the same reputation for defensive excellence as Crow-Armstrong. His performance was scrutinized, especially given that Crow-Armstrong significantly outperformed him in key defensive statistics, including a +9 Run Value compared to Crow-Armstrong's +16. Perkins' nomination raised eyebrows, as he played fewer innings and was not widely considered a frontrunner for the award. His inclusion may have been influenced by his full season in the majors, contrasting with Crow-Armstrong's mid-season call-up.