Atlanta Braves: Why Ronald Acuna Jr. Can Win Gold Glove in 2020
By Seth Carter
Atlanta Braves – Gold Glove Competition – Jason Heyward, CHC
Our old friend had a resurgent season with the bat, but we all know how magical Heyward can be with the mitt. In a recent article gushing over how wonderful Ender Inciarte had been between 2014-2018, I provided a list of only three outfielders who had more defensive runs saved over that time than Ender’s 86. The guy just ahead of him? Jason Heyward and his 92 DRS.
While Heyward finished with just two total defensive runs saved in the outfield last season, he spent half of his time in centerfield where he posted -4 DRS. Obviously he was happier at home in right field. If you aren’t familiar with Rdrs/yr, it is simple. Baseball-Reference takes the number of defensive runs the player saved and averages it out over what they consider a year, which is 1,200 innings.
Heyward’s rDRS/year showed he was on pace for 12 DRS in RF last season, which is consistent with his annual average of 15 DRS per season over 10 years. Heyward showed excellent range, finishing fourth in RngR.
Mookie Betts is the newcomer this season. Betts will take over rightfield duties in L.A. and move the National League’s reigning Gold Glove winner (Cody Bellinger) over to center. Mookie Betts’ entry into the National League this season throws a wrench into some of the stats we were just covering. Last season with Boston he posted a RngR of 6.0, which would have tied him with Bryce Harper for best in the N.L.
Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) is sort of a compilation of range runs, arm rating (runs saved with good throws, both smart and powerful), and a few other factors. Although it sounds very different, it’s quite similar to defensive runs saved with a slightly varied formula.
UZR/150 is simply an average UZR over 150 games.
Last season Betts posted a UZR/150 of 15.6, which would have been good for third in the N.L. (min 190 innings) and was slightly better than teammate Cody Bellinger’s 15.3.
Betts has won four Gold Gloves in a row in the American League and is an early favorite for the 2020 Gold Glove Award in right field.