Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Cody Bellinger Wins Gold Glove Award in Right Field

Cody Bellinger had quite the year in 2019. He put himself firmly in the conversation as one of the game’s brightest young stars and had an MVP-type campaign at just 24 years old. The sky seems to be the limit for the talented first baseman and outfielder.

On the season, Bellinger put together an incredible .305/.406/.629 slash line with a 162 wRC+ mark. He racked up 7.8 WAR to boot. However, with a second-half decline, it is not out of the question to say that Bellinger had an even better on the defensive side of the ball.



Bellinger was the best defensive player that was not a catcher in 2019 by a wide range of metrics. It was no surprise when he was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award in right field and it was also no surprise when he won the Fielding Bible Award from Sports Info Solutions. He was downright incredible — and that is why Cody Bellinger is your 2019 Gold Glove winner in 2019.

The Dodgers slugger beat out Bryce Harper from the Phillies, and 5-time Gold Glove winner Jason Heyward from the Cubs.

Bellinger put up 7 Outs Above Average (OAA) per Statcast and 26 combined Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) per Fangraphs. He put up 19 DRS in right field, in particular, leading the position. The most impressive part of that, though, is that Bellinger played far less innings In right field than his counterparts due to bouncing around to first base and center field — and he still did that. 

Congratulations to Cody Bellinger on the first Gold Glove of many that have yet to come.


Official Press Release

Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfielder Cody Bellinger has been named 2019 Rawlings National League Gold Glove award winner for right field.

He is the first Dodger to win a Rawlings Gold Glove since Zack Greinke (P) in 2015 and first Dodger outfielder to win the award since Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp both won in 2011. He joins Ethier (2011), Kemp (2011), Steve Finley (2004), Raul Mondesi (1995, 1997), Dusty Baker (1981), Willie Davis (1971-1973) and Wally Moon (1960) as Dodgers’ outfielders to receive the award. 

In his third season with the Dodgers, Bellinger, 24, led the National League with a .990 fielding percentage among right fielders, making two errors in 210 chances. He was among the National League right field leaders in innings played (911.1, 7th), assists (10, 2nd), Ultimate Zone Rating (9.5, 2nd), range runs or RngR (5.6, 2nd), Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games (15.3, 1st) and Defensive Runs Saved (19, 1st).

In totality, the Arizona native appeared in 136 games in the outfield, making three errors in 253 total chances. He was among the National League outfield leaders in assists (10, T-4th), fielding percentage (.988, 11th), RngR (6.2, 5th), UZR (10.3, 2nd), UZR/150 (13.7, 2nd) and innings played (1082.0, 16). He finished tied for second in the Majors with San Diego’s Hunter Renfroe in defensive runs saved by an outfielder (22), finishing behind Washington’s Victor Robles (24).

To determine winners of the Gold Glove award, each manager and up to six coaches on his staff vote from a pool of qualified players in their league and cannot vote for players on their own team. In 2013, Rawlings added a sabermetric component to the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process, as part of its collaboration with the society for American Baseball Research (SABR). The SABR Defensive Index comprises approximately 25 percent of the overall selection total, with the managers and coaches; vote to carry the majority.

Daniel Preciado

My name is Daniel Preciado and I am 19 years old. I am a sophomore Sport Analytics major and Cognitive Science and Economics dual minor at Syracuse University. When I am not in New York, I live in Whittier, California --- not too far from Chavez Ravine. I am pretty old-school for being an analytics guy and I will always embrace debate. Also, Chase Utley did absolutely nothing wrong.

5 Comments

  1. That’s the one award he deserved. MVP not so much you gotta have 2 halves not just one

  2. Good job dude. Now lets get a player petition together and fire Dave Roberts! You do want to add a couple World Series rings to your collection right?

  3. Congratulations Cody “Boom” Bellinger (35) on your Gold Glove Award you deserve it.

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