It was a season of highlight-reel catches for Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, and his hard work paid off. He was named Wilson's Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) on Friday.
Not to be confused with MLB's annual Gold Glove accolades, the DPOY awards are decided by more meticulous means than the eyeball test.
In addition to the overall winner, the top defenders across both leagues at every position are determined by a series of weighted sabermetric statistics (pitchers and catchers use a different formula):
- 25% Defensive WAR
- 25% Defensive Runs Saved
- 20% Inside Edge Fielding Ratings
- 20% Inside Edge Arm Ratings
- 10% Fielding Percentage
| Pos | Player | Team | DRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Martin Maldonado | Angels | 10 |
| 1B | Carlos Santana | Indians | 10 |
| 2B | DJ LeMahieu | Rockies | 8 |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Rockies | 20 |
| SS | Andrelton Simmons | Angels | 32 |
| LF | Alex Gordon | Royals | 9 |
| CF | Byron Buxton | Twins | 24 |
| RF | Yasiel Puig | Dodgers | 18 |
| P | Tyler Chatwood | Rockies | 9 |
Of the winners, only three - Santana, Puig, and Chatwood - failed to take home a Gold Glove award earlier in the week.
The DPOY used to be given to the top defensive player on each team, but starting in 2014, it was awarded to only the best at each position. No player has won more than Simmons, who took home his fourth at shortstop.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers reigned supreme as the best overall defensive team, finishing second in defensive runs saved (68) and defensive efficiency (.704), and tops in baseball in both defensive WAR (5.4) and framing runs (34).