Ian Happ continues to set the defensive standard in left field in the National League.

Happ won his third straight Gold Glove Award in left field when the winners were announced on Sunday night. He is the first Cubs outfielder to win the award in 3 consecutive years. The 30-year-old beat Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh for the award.

Happ also is the fifth Cubs position player to win a Gold Glove Award in at least three straight years, joining Anthony Rizzo, Ryne Sandberg and Ron Santo.

“The Cubs pinch-me moments are pretty cool,” Happ said after winning the award. “When your name is mentioned with some of those guys that are legends and greats of the Chicago Cubs organization, those are the really special moments.

“I was fortunate enough to play with with Rizz and that group and seeing it in real time. And so to be mentioned this with the guys that come back and put on the blue, Hall of Fame jacket is pretty cool there. It’s an amazing group and it’s an amazing history.

“And to be a small part of it, it means a lot to me. It’s why I love this place, and been so lucky to just finish eight years here and go into the ninth. The history of this organization, the fan base that makes it so fun to come to work everyday.

The Cubs’ other finalist, shortstop Dansby Swanson, did not win the award, losing out to Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar. Swanson had won the award the previous two seasons, like Happ.

[WATCH: Ian Happ’s top 10 defensive plays from 2024]

Happ becomes the first NL outfielder to win a Gold Glove three straight years since Ender Inciarte won a trio from 2016 to 2018. Jason Heyward won 4 straight Gold Gloves from 2014 to 2017 as a member of Atlanta, St. Louis and the Cubs.

The last Cubs player to win 3 straight Gold Gloves as a member of the team was Rizzo who won the NL Gold Glove Award at first base from 2018 to 2020.

Happ finished second in baseball with 11 outfield assists, behind only Boston’s Jarren Duran. He was tops among NL left fielders in defensive runs saved (8) and in fielding percentage (.997).

[Watch Ian Happ’s podcast “The Compound” on Marquee Sports Network every Thursday]

“I think the throwing was really good the last two years,” Happ said. “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.

“Last year, I was really proud of the throwing, and it kind of carried me. And this year to be able to put both of those together again, like I did in ’22 where I was able to track down balls and throwing was there too, I think getting that back and really feeling like I ran a bunch of balls down and did my job out there.”

The Cubs left fielder has established himself as a key piece for the team on both sides of the field. He tied a career-high with 25 home runs this season, posted a .782 OPS and amassed a 3.6 fWAR. His Gold Glove validates his ability to help the team in all facets.

[MORE: Dansby Swanson’s top 10 defensive plays from 2024]

Swanson led NL shortstops in Outs Above Average (18) but was third in defensive runs saved (7). Tovar was second in both OAA (15) and DRS (10). DRS is one of the metrics that accounts for 25% of the criteria for the award. Tovar had a higher DRS than Swanson and played 100 more innings than the Cubs shortstop this past season.

St. Louis rookie Masyn Winn was the other finalist at shortstop.

In 2023, Swanson led NL shortstops in DRS, en route to his second Gold Glove.

Swanson’s double-play partner, Nico Hoerner, was not a finalist after winning the award at second base in 2023. Hoerner was fourth in DRS among NL second baseman (4) and led the group in OAA (10).

He was hampered by a flexor tendon injury in his right arm that required surgery after the season.

“Dansby, I thought he was right there and had a really good shot at it,” Happ said. “Obviously, a couple guys had fantastic years at shortstop, too. And it doesn’t take away from what those guys are able to do in the middle of diamond and how special they are. And, like you said, we get to watch it on a daily basis. “

So maybe I’m biased, but I know how good those guys are, and you know how year in Andy out, they come in as favorites to win the Gold Glove start of the year.”