Right Field
Don’t even bother to tally the votes. Just hand the award to Mookie Betts right now. Boston’s right fielder was second in the majors at any position with 31 defensive runs saved. The next best right fielder in that category? That would be New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge… with 9 DRS.
How does Betts save so many runs? With plays like this.
.@mookiebetts started 153 games in the OF this season, the most in the AL.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 26, 2017
...and he makes it look easy. pic.twitter.com/08T6OLlykr
Betts also owns a ridiculous advantage with a 20.5 UZR that leads the majors at any position. Los Angles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun is second at the position with 8.5 UZR and Judge is third with 6.1 UZR.
#Rawlings #GoldGlove Award Finalists – AL RF – @Angels @KoleCalhoun, @RedSox @mookiebetts, @Yankees @TheJudge44 pic.twitter.com/j8JIp12Qaa
— Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) October 26, 2017
Calhoun has an edge with 10 outfield assists compared to only eight four Betts. Although, in fairness, most opposing players have learned by now not to run on Mookie. When they try, bad things happen.
The five errors Betts made were one more than Calhoun, but since he also had far more chances to make a play his .987 fielding percentage is only a fraction of a point behind Calhoun’s.
MLB may be pushing to make Judge the next face of baseball but smashing home runs has nothing to do with defensive awards. Judge and Calhoun are both great outfielders but Betts is in his own stratosphere. If he doesn’t win his second consecutive Gold Glove then there needs to be a federal investigation into one of the biggest robberies in baseball history.
Predicted Winner: Betts