Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in Game 4 of the MLB World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, October 24, 2020. /CFP
Major League Baseball (MLB) announced the winners of the Gold Glove Awards, a honor for superior individual fielding performances, for the 2020 season. The shiniest of all 18 names on the list was Mookie Betts from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 28-year-old joined the Dodgers in February. He already won four straight Gold Glove Awards (and one World Series title) back in the Boston Red Sox. In his first season with the new team, Betts pocketed the honor for the fifth time in a row and another Commissioner's Trophy.
The selection of Gold Glove winners this year was a bit different from the previous ones: Managers and coaches did not vote because of the major league's regional schedule this season. Instead, a collection of defensive metrics known as the SABR Defensive Index, which combines several methods of estimating defensive performance statistically, became the ground of the selection.
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the MLB World Series at Globe Life Field, October 27, 2020. /CFP
However, that did not put any doubt in Betts' winning. He saved 11 defensive runs, the third-most (shared with Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins), trailing only Nolan Arenado (15) of the Colorado Rockies and Joey Gallo (12) of the Texas Rangers.
Meanwhile, though postseason performance was not considered in the selection, Betts' work in the playoffs only told you what an incredible defender he was. For example, he saved the Dodgers in Game 4 of the series against the Atlanta Braves. During the third winning, the Braves, which already led 3-1 in the series, led 2-0 in the game and had runners at second and third with only one out. Betts caught Dansby Swanson's line drive and Marcell Ozuna was then ruled out for leaving third base early. Betts' save kept the game alive for the Dodgers which won G4 7-3.
"Unbelievable play by an unbelievable player in a big moment. That is what you need to win baseball games this time in the year," said Betts' teammate Corey Seager.
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches a fly ball in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Globe Life Field, October 15, 2020. /CFP
The full list of Gold Glove Award winners this season goes as follows:
Catcher – Roberto Perez of the Cleveland Indians (American League) and Tucker Barnhart of the Cincinnati Reds (National League).
First base – Even White of the Seattle Mariners (AL) and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs.
Second base – Cesar Hernandez of the Cleveland Indians (AL) and Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals (NL).
Shortstop – J.P. Crawford of the Seattle Mariners (AL) and Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs (NL).
Third base – Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Texas Rangers (AL) and Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies (NL).
Left field – Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals (AL) and Tyler O'Neill of the St. Louis Cardinals (NL).
Center field – Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox (AL) and Trent Grisham of the San Diego Padres (NL).
Right field – Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers (AL) and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers (NL).
Pitcher – Griffin Canning of the Los Angeles Angels (AL) and Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves (NL).