Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts won the 2023 multi-position Fielding Bible Award and also finished fifth in voting for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes won the award after being named on 11 of 16 ballots. Sandwiched between Hayes and Betts were San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatís Jr. (No. 2), Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.
Fielding Bible Award winners were determined by a 16-person voting panel. The group selects 11 winners, with one at each position, plus for the best multi-position player and a Defensive Player of the Year.
The voting panel consisted of SIS co-founder John Dewan, Bill James, Daniel Álvarez-Montes (El Extra Base), Chris Dial (sabermetrician), Alyson Footer (MLB.com), Peter Gammons (The Athletic), Tyler Kepner (The Athletic), Bill Ladson (MLB.com), Eduardo Pérez (ESPN), Hal Richman (Strat-O-Matic), Travis Sawchik (The Score), Bobby Scales (SIS), Joe Sheehan, Mark Simon (SIS), Dani Wexelman (MLB Network Radio), and an aggregate vote from the SIS Video Scout staff.
A first-place vote garnered 10 points, second-place received nine points, third-place got eight points, and so forth.
Betts, who is additionally a 2023 Gold Glove Award in right field and utility, finished with nine defensive runs saved in calculations by both Sports Info Solutions and FanGraphs (six at second base, three in right field). He had a 1.000 fielding percentage in right field and recorded eight assists.
Betts sported a .991 fielding percentage at second base to go along with 33 doubles plays, and posted a .935 fielding percentage at shortstop.
The 31-year-old played 107 games in right field, 70 at second base and 16 as shortstop. Betts was the only player this season to have positive defensive runs saved at both an infield position and in the outfield, while playing at least 400 innings at each.
Mookie Betts ties Fielding Bible Awards record
Betts won his sixth Fielding Bible Award this year, which is tied with Yadier Molina and Andrelton Simmons for the most all-time. Betts’ previous five honors came in right field (2016-2020, 2022).
Fielding Bible Awards have been handed out each year since 2006.
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