A converted second baseman has been voted the best right fielder in the American League.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts has been named the 2016 Gold Glove Award winner for right field in the AL, Rawlings announced Tuesday night on ESPN. It’s the 24-year-old’s first career Gold Glove.
Betts’ .997 fielding percentage led all AL outfielders this season, and his 32Â defensive runs saved were 10 more than any other player at any position, according to FanGraphs. He also finished second in the AL with 14 outfield assists, the most by a Red Sox outfielder since Dwight Evans in 1979.
It was a pretty remarkable defensive season for Betts — who also is an AL MVP finalist — considering he came up in Boston’s farm system as an infielder and played his first professional game as an outfielder in 2014.
Betts’ teammates weren’t so lucky, however. Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier captured his second consecutive Gold Glove at the position, leaving Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. empty-handed, while the Detroit Tigers’ Ian Kinsler beat Dustin Pedroia for the Gold Glove at second base.
Here are the full results for the 2016 Gold Glove Awards:
Catcher:
American League:Â Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals (fourth straight Gold Glove)
National League: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants (first Gold Glove)
First base:
AL: Mitch Moreland, Texas Rangers (first)
NL: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs (first)
Second base:
AL: Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers (first)
NL: Joe Panik, Giants (first)
Shortstop:
AL: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians (first)
NL: Brandon Crawford, Giants (second straight)
Third base:
AL: Adrian Beltre, Rangers (fifth overall)
NL: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (fourth straight)
Left field:
AL: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees (first)
NL: Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates (second)
Center field:
AL: Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays (second straight)
NL: Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves (first)
Right field:
AL: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox (first)
NL: Jason Heyward, Cubs (third straight, fourth overall)
Pitcher:
AL: LHP Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (third straight)
NL: RHP Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (third straight)
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
