Los Angeles superstar Mookie Betts has been named a Gold Glove finalist as a shortstop. Other finalists include Macin Wynn of the St. Louis Cardinals and Nick Allen of the Atlanta Braves.
Additionally, Miguel Rojas was named a finalist for the National League Utility Gold Glove Award, along with Javier Sanoja of the Miami Marlins and Jared Toriolo of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Not only is Betts playing as an elite shortstop this season, he’s also doing so after making an unprecedented transition from the six-time Gold Glove-winning right fielder. Only three players in MLB history have won Gold Gloves at multiple positions, and only one has won Gold Gloves in both the infield and outfield (Darin Erstad won twice in the outfield and once as a first baseman).
Placido Polanco has won Gold Gloves as a second baseman and third baseman, and DJ LeMahieu has won three Gold Gloves as a second baseman and one as a utility player.
Betts leads MLB in runs allowed (17) among active shortstops and ranks in the 90th percentile in baseball in outs above average.
As for Rojas, he has proven this season that he can be an effective infielder wherever he is needed.
He ranks in the 91st percentile among eligible fielders in terms of outs above average and ranks 11th among second basemen in defensive runs allowed (minimum 200 innings). He also recorded a fielding percentage of 98.9 percent at second base, 98 percent at third base, and 98.1 percent at shortstop, logging over 100 innings at each position.
The defending champions’ two defensive cornerstones bring a tremendous amount of value to the team on the Diamonds, and being able to do so at such an elite level will be invaluable as October continues.
For Betts, this is the perfect culmination of his tireless efforts to become a major league shortstop.
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Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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