Defensive Player of the Year Award winners
The 2019 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards were announced on Wednesday, honoring the top defender in MLB at each position, as well as one overall Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive Team of the Year.
This year's overall Defensive Player of the Year: Indians catcher Roberto Pérez. It's Pérez's first time winning any Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award, let alone the top honor.
There were four first-time honorees in 2019, including Pérez. The others were Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, D-backs left fielder David Peralta and Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge. The Astros also were named Defensive Team of the Year for the first time.
As far as repeat winners, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons led the way. He was named a Wilson Defensive Player of the Year for the sixth time. Then came Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who won his fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The individual and team award winners are determined using a formula that incorporates traditional and advanced defensive stats, plus scouting data from Inside Edge.
Here's a list of this year's winners:
Catcher and Overall Defensive Player of the Year: Roberto Pérez, Indians
Pérez is a Defensive Player of the Year for the first time after leading all MLB players -- not just catchers -- with 29 Defensive Runs Saved. He was also one of the best pitch framers, saving the Indians 12 Runs From Extra Strikes (Statcast's framing metric), fourth best among catchers.
"It means a lot. I have a lot of pride being back there," Pérez said. "To play defense behind an outstanding rotation -- we've got a great pitching staff -- it takes a lot of work and dedication. I put a lot of work in in the cages before the game. I have a great team. I have to give a lot of credit to Sandy Alomar, who has helped me a lot in my career. I'm just proud of myself."
First base: Freddie Freeman, Braves
This is Freeman's second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award at first base. He's a rock there for the Braves, playing 158 games at the position in 2019 and 319 over the last two seasons. That's a total of 2,780 2/3 innings at first base.
Second base: Kolten Wong, Cardinals
Wong is a first-time honoree after leading MLB second basemen with 14 Defensive Runs Saved. He adds the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year trophy to the NL Gold Glove Award he just won, also for the first time.
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Angels
Simmons has now won six Defensive Player of the Year Awards at shortstop in the past seven seasons. Since the first of those awards in 2013, Simmons' 179 Defensive Runs Saved are over 100 more than the next-closest shortstop (the D-backs' Nick Ahmed, who has 76).
Third base: Matt Chapman, Athletics
Chapman is an all-world defender at the hot corner, and he takes home his second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. Last year, he was also the overall Defensive Player of the Year. The 26-year-old led all third basemen with 18 Defensive Runs Saved this season.
Left field: David Peralta, D-backs
Peralta was a first-time Gold Glover this season, and now he's a first-time Defensive Player of the Year. The 32-year-old's 10 Defensive Runs Saved in 2019 were tied for the most among left fielders.
Center field: Lorenzo Cain, Brewers
Cain has been one of the elite center fielders in the game for a long time. Somehow, he only just won his first Gold Glove Award -- but he's now a four-time Defensive Player of the Year at his position. This is his first award since 2014, though, after he won three straight times from 2012-14.
Right field: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Judge is more impressive in right field than you might realize. His 19 Defensive Runs Saved were tied for the most of any right fielder this season, and that earned the Yankees star his first Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Pitcher: Zack Greinke, D-backs/Astros
Greinke is the choice at pitcher for a second straight season and for the third time in the last four. He fields his position as well as anyone every year, and he also has six Gold Gloves to show for it, along with his three Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
Defensive Team of the Year: Houston Astros
From Alex Bregman's hands at third base, to Carlos Correa's rocket arm at shortstop, to George Springer’s and Jake Marisnick's range in the outfield to Greinke's savvy on the mound, the Astros are just impressive defensively all around the field.