Former Snapper wins 2018 MLB Platinum Glove Award
After a season in which he already garnered a plethora of defensive accolades, the best defensive third baseman in baseball- and possibly the best defensive player overall in 2018- received the highest honor in terms of defense.
After a season in which he already garnered a plethora of defensive accolades, the best defensive third baseman in baseball- and possibly the best defensive player overall in 2018- received the highest honor in terms of defense.
A's third baseman
Rawlings has administered the Platinum Glove since 2011 as an extension of the Gold Glove awards. The Platinum Glove is decided entirely by fan vote, with the general public choosing between that year's nine Gold Glove winners in each league to determine the top overall fielder in the AL and NL.
This offseason has been a busy one for Chapman with all the hardware he has accumulated. In addition to his Gold Glove, he has taken home the Fielding Bible award as the best third baseman in either league. Chapman also received the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award, which is awarded to the best overall defender in baseball.
Chapman led the majors in defensive runs saved (DRS) at 29- a whopping 26 runs above league average- in 2018. He also had an ultimate zone rating (UZR) of 10.9, good for 9.4 runs above league average. Chapman's defensive WAR (3.5) led the Majors.
There has never been any doubt regarding Chapman's defensive prowess, which was his calling card when Oakland drafted him 25th overall out of California State University-Fullerton in 2014. Chapman flashed his defensive skills during a brief stint at Class A Beloit later in 2014, where he spent just 50 games.
When he reached the Majors in 2017, Chapman was already considered among game's elite at his position, even comparable to his high school teammate and Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, another perennial Gold Glove candidate.
Arenado has won six consecutive Gold Gloves since breaking into the Majors in 2013, and 2018 was his second consecutive Platinum Glove, but Chapman has edged Arenado both times they have been pitted against each other. Chapman was elected over Arenado for the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year and Fielding Bible awards in 2018, both of which give one MLB-wide honor rather than an award for each league.
The voting process behind each award also shed some light on the marvel of Chapman's accomplishments. The Gold Gloves are voted on by managers and coaches; the Fielding Bible awards are determined by a panel of noted sabermetricians; the Wilson Defensive Player is rewarded objectively using only statistics; and the Platinum Glove is a fan vote. Chapman came out on top regardless of the competition.
Despite all of the accolades Chapman racked up for his defense in 2018, perhaps the most surprising- and encouraging- part of his season was his production at the plate. After hitting .234 and showing modest power in his debut season of 2017, Chapman picked it up for a contending A's team in 2018. He batted .278 with a .356 on-base percentage while scoring 100 runs. Chapman mashed 24 home runs, 42 doubles and six triples on his way to a stellar .508 slugging percentage.
Chapman's combined efforts at the dish and in the field translated to an 8.2 WAR, third in baseball among position players behind only Mookie Betts and