Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Cody Bellinger was named one of three finalists for a Gold Glove Award among National League right fielders. He’s joined by Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs’ Jason Heyward.
Bellinger is the Dodgers’ first finalist since Yasiel Puig qualified, also for right field, in 2017. Puig lost out to Heyward. The Dodgers’ last Gold Glove winner was Zack Greinke, who won the award in back-to-back years from 2014-15; Adrian Gonzalez also won in 2014.
Bellinger led all qualified NL right fielders this season with a 4.8 Defensive Rating and 19 Defensive Runs Saved.
Next on the list was Harper with a 3.2 Def. and 9 DRS. Bellinger additionally held the advantage in UZR/150 at 15.3 compared to 11, though Harper edged Bellinger in UZR (11 to 10.5).
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has long envisioned Bellinger being a Gold-Glove caliber defender, as back in Spring Training he forecasted it was a possibility at either first base or in the outfield.
Bellinger began the 2019 season by primarily playing right field, but a shoulder injury led to spending more time at first base. He finished the year — including the postseason — serving as the Dodgers’ everyday center fielder.
To qualify for consideration for a particular position, an infielder and outfielder must have played in the field for at least 713 total innings through his team’s 142nd game. That equates to playing in the field for approximately 7.5 innings per game in approximately 67% of his team’s games by his team’s 142nd game.
All infielders and outfielders with at least 713 total innings played qualify at the specific position where he played the most innings. Bellinger logged 911.1 innings in right field, 230 at first base, and 170.2 in center field.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award represents overall fielding excellence, and it is not an award based solely on fielding metrics and statistics, nor does it factor offensive production.
Only the manager and his coaching staff on each team are permitted to vote, though they are not allowed to do so for their own players. The coach/manager votes account for 75 percent of the formula, and the SABR Defensive Index make up the remaining 25 percent.
Gold Glove Award winners will be announced Nov. 3 on ESPN.
