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Both watching and playing great defense never gets old.



Some of the top defensive players in the game have aged a bit, but that didn't stop them from having outstanding seasons in 2019. This year's Fielding Bible Awards include four recipients who were 30 or olderIndians catcher Roberto Perez, Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain, Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta, and Astros pitcher Zack Greinke.



The 33-year-old Cain and the 36-year-old Greinke each won for the second straight season. They were joined as repeat winners by first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Kolten Wong, and third baseman Matt Chapman.



Newly honored winners joining Peralta and Perez are shortstop Nick Ahmed and right fielder Cody Bellinger. Bellinger also won the Multi-Position award. He's the first player to win two Fielding Bible Awards in the same season.



Congratulations to all the winners!



Two new panelists, baseball journalists Joe Sheehan and Christina Kahrl, are now part of our 12-person expert voting panel. Meg Rowley, managing editor of Fangraphs.com, has been added as a tiebreaker voter. The panel awards 10 winners each year, one at each position plus an additional award that goes to the best defensive multi-position player.



Here's a refresher on how the awards are determined. We asked a panel of 12 experts to rank 10 players at each position on a scale from 1 to 10. A first-place vote gets 10 points, second place 9 points, third place 8 points, etc. Total up the points for each player and the player with the most points wins the award. A perfect score is 120 points.



Here are the Fielding Bible Awards for the 2019 season.



First Base  Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics

Olson won his second in a row, this time by unanimous selection. He is a difference-maker at first base for the Athletics, helping make their infield one of the best in baseball. Twelve of his 13 Defensive Runs Saved come from Range & Positioning. Only two other first basemen even reached five Range & Positioning Runs Saved. Olson is very surehanded, rating above average on balls hit down the line and in the hole. He does great work handling throws from shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman. Over the last two seasons, Olson has 67 Good Fielding Plays for throw handling. No other first baseman has more than 60. Previous Winners: 2018 Matt Olson 2011 Albert Pujols 2017 Paul Goldschmidt 2010 Daric Barton 2016 Anthony Rizzo 2009 Albert Pujols 2015 Paul Goldschmidt 2008 Albert Pujols 2014 Adrian Gonzalez 2007 Albert Pujols 2013 Paul Goldschmidt 2006 Albert Pujols 2012 Mark Teixeira

Second Base  Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals

Kolten Wong has earned the title of best defensive second baseman the last two seasons, becoming an efficient machine when it comes to turning ground balls into outs. Last year he edged out DJ LeMahieu by five points. This time he was a unanimous selection. Wong stands out for getting outs on balls in the '34' hole that other second basemen don't reach. He also brings an aggressiveness to the position. Wong made 38 plays in which he sprinted to either reach a pop up or go after a ground ball, five more than any other second baseman. Previous Winners: 2018 Kolten Wong 2011 Dustin Pedroia 2017 DJ LeMahieu 2010 Chase Utley 2016 Dustin Pedroia 2009 Aaron Hill 2015 Ian Kinsler 2008 Brandon Phillips 2014 Dustin Pedroia 2007 Aaron Hill 2013 Dustin Pedroia 2006 Orlando Hudson 2012 Darwin Barney

Third Base  Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

Chapman hasn't been around for that long, but his defensive work already merits mention with all-time greats. Chapman specializes in doubles denial. The Athletics allowed 97 ground balls hit within 10 feet of the third base line. Their third basemen (almost always Chapman) turned 76% of them into outs, a rate 20 percentage points above the MLB average. What's so impressive is that Chapman does this sort of thing while playing a mistake-free third base. He had the fewest Misplays & Errors on a per-inning basis of any third baseman. In the last three seasons Chapman has 66 Defensive Runs Saved. Nolan Arenado ranks second among third basemen with 33, half as many! Previous Winners: 2018 Matt Chapman 2011 Adrian Beltre 2017 Nolan Arenado 2010 Evan Longoria 2016 Nolan Arenado 2009 Ryan Zimmerman 2015 Nolan Arenado 2008 Adrian Beltre 2014 Josh Donaldson 2007 Pedro Feliz 2013 Manny Machado 2006 Adrian Beltre 2012 Adrian Beltre

Shortstop  Nick Ahmed, Arizona Diamondbacks

Ahmed ended Andrelton Simmons' six-year reign as a Fielding Bible Award winner. He edged Javier Baez by two points in an extremely tight vote. Ahmed's success doesn't come from making flashy plays like his positional counterparts. It comes on the strength of his throwing arm (he pitched in college) which allows him to make plays in the hole that other shortstops can't make. On the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, Ahmed expressed concern that good defenders outside major markets might get overlooked. He's not getting overlooked by our panel. Previous Winners: 2018 Andrelton Simmons 2011 Troy Tulowitzki 2017 Andrelton Simmons 2010 Troy Tulowitzki 2016 Andrelton Simmons 2009 Jack Wilson 2015 Andrelton Simmons 2008 Jimmy Rollins 2014 Andrelton Simmons 2007 Troy Tulowitzki 2013 Andrelton Simmons 2006 Adam Everett 2012 Brendan Ryan

Left Field  David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks

Speaking of close votes, left field went to our tiebreaker, which gave the award to Peralta over Michael Brantley of the Astros. Peralta tied Brantley and Mike Tauchman for the lead in Defensive Runs Saved among left fielders with 10. Those came largely from his being able to catch up to fly balls hit to the deepest part of the ballpark. He also had a positive value in Outfield Arm Runs Saved in left field for the first time in his career. Left field might not be the most glamorous position in the major leagues these days, but Peralta does what needs to be done to excel there. Previous Winners: 2018 Alex Gordon 2011 Brett Gardner 2017 Brett Gardner 2010 Brett Gardner 2016 Starling Marte 2009 Carl Crawford 2015 Starling Marte 2008 Carl Crawford 2014 Alex Gordon 2007 Eric Byrnes 2013 Alex Gordon 2006 Carl Crawford 2012 Alex Gordon

Center Field  Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers

Center field is a physically challenging position. And it's one in which great players abound. That makes it highly impressive that Cain is the first center fielder to win a Fielding Bible Award in consecutive years since BIS introduced the award in 2006. Cain is all about chasing down well-hit fly balls. His five home run robberies matched the most in a season since we began tracking them in 2004 (Carlos Gomez had five in 2013, Josh Reddick matched Cain this season). Cain now has three Fielding Bible Awards. He took our first Multi-Positional honor in 2014. Previous Winners: 2018 Lorenzo Cain 2011 Austin Jackson 2017 Byron Buxton 2010 Michael Bourn 2016 Kevin Pillar 2009 Franklin Gutierrez 2015 Kevin Kiermaier 2008 Carlos Beltran 2014 Juan Lagares 2007 Andruw Jones 2013 Carlos Gomez 2006 Carlos Beltran 2012 Mike Trout

Right Field  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

Bellinger racked up Defensive Runs Saved early in the season, setting a pace that was tough to match. His 19 Runs Saved matched Aaron Judge for the most at the position. Bellinger's winning ended a three-year award-winning run by Mookie Betts. Like Betts, Bellinger has great range and a terrific throwing arm. Bellinger, Betts and Brian Anderson of the Marlins tied for the lead among right fielders with five Outfield Arm Runs Saved. He's the first Dodgers outfielder to win a Fielding Bible Award. Previous Winners: 2018 Mookie Betts 2011 Justin Upton 2017 Mookie Betts 2010 Ichiro Suzuki 2016 Mookie Betts 2009 Ichiro Suzuki 2015 Jason Heyward 2008 Franklin Gutierrez 2014 Jason Heyward 2007 Alex Rios 2013 Gerardo Parra 2006 Ichiro Suzuki 2012 Jason Heyward

Catcher  Roberto Perez, Cleveland Indians

After trading Yan Gomes in the offseason, the Indians committed to Perez as their primary catcher. He ranked fourth in the majors in innings caught and every one was caught at a high level. Perez does everything you would want a catcher to do. He ranked second at the position in our pitch-framing metric (Strike Zone Runs Saved) and second in Catcher Block Rate and was above-average in basestealing deterrence. That led to him saving 29 runs, one shy of the most in a season for a catcher. Four different catchers have won a Fielding Bible Award the last four years, but Perez may have some staying power. Previous Winners: 2018 Jeff Mathis 2011 Matt Wieters 2017 Martin Maldonado 2010 Yadier Molina 2016 Buster Posey 2009 Yadier Molina 2015 Buster Posey 2008 Yadier Molina 2014 Jonathan Lucroy 2007 Yadier Molina 2013 Yadier Molina 2006 Ivan Rodriguez 2012 Yadier Molina

Pitcher  Zack Greinke, Houston Astros

Greinke won his second straight Fielding Bible Award because he kept busy. His 68 chances were a career-high and the most in the majors. He led the majors in putouts by a pitcher and tied for the lead in assists with Braves starter Max Fried. He ran away with the lead in double plays, being a part of 12. No other pitcher had more than five. Greinke is still spry, even after 16 years in the major leagues. He covers ground well off the mound. His defense is important to his overall success as a pitcher. Previous Winners: 2018 Zack Greinke 2011 Mark Buehrle 2017 Dallas Keuchel 2010 Mark Buehrle 2016 Dallas Keuchel 2009 Mark Buehrle 2015 Dallas Keuchel 2008 Kenny Rogers 2014 Dallas Keuchel 2007 Johan Santana 2013 R.A. Dickey 2006 Greg Maddux 2012 Mark Buehrle

Multi-Position  Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

In talking to Dodgers coach George Lombard earlier this season, he felt that Bellinger was capable of being the game's best defender in right field, center field, and first base. Bellinger might prove him correct someday. For now, he's good enough at all three to earn this award for multi-positional excellence. Bellinger had 19 Runs Saved in right field, four at first base, and three in center field. His 26 in total were good for second in the majors to Roberto Perez's 29. Bellinger has the range, the reflexes and the arm to handle whatever comes his way. He showed that and then some in 2019. Previous Winners: 2018 Javier Baez 2015 Ender Inciarte 2017 Javier Baez 2014 Lorenzo Cain 2016 Javier Baez

