Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts and the San Francisco Giants have been named the top recipients of the fifth annual Wilson Defensive Player of the Year and Wilson Defensive Team of the Year awards, which are given annually to the top defensive players and Club in Major League Baseball.
In addition to Betts, who was named the top defensive player in baseball, the following Major Leaguers were honored as the top defensive players at their respective positions:
- Zack Greinke – pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Buster Posey – catcher, San Francisco Giants
- Anthony Rizzo – first baseman, Chicago Cubs
- Dustin Pedroia – second baseman, Boston Red Sox
- Nolan Arenado – third baseman, Colorado Rockies
- Brandon Crawford – shortstop, San Francisco Giants
- Brett Gardner – left fielder, New York Yankees
- Kevin Kiermaier – center fielder, Tampa Bay Rays
Betts, a first-time All-Star in 2016 and a first-time recipient of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award, led MLB with 32 defensive runs saved. At age 24, he is the youngest player to win a Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The Giants, who reached the Postseason as a National League (NL) Wild Card team this year, set an NL record in 2016 for the longest errorless streak in league history, spanning more than 17 games. The Giants (Posey and Crawford) were one of two Clubs with multiple 2016 award winners (Red Sox).
Of the nine players honored, five (Greinke, Rizzo, Kiermaier, Gardner and Betts) are first-time winners, with five hailing from the NL and four from the American League. Pedroia, the overall Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, earned his third award this year while Posey, Crawford and Arenado won for the second time in their careers.
The winners were determined using a formula that combines traditional defensive stats with advanced metrics, as well as the data logged by the baseball experts working for the scouting service Inside Edge.
For more information about the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year awards and for a complete list of past winners, visit atmlb.com/1NnGOle.
Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a subsidiary of Amer Sports, is a manufacturer of sports equipment, apparel and accessories.