The Diamondbacks defense was talked about all season as one of the best in baseball, and that was borne out in voting Thursday, when D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra was named the winner of the National League's Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award and the D-backs received the NL Defensive Team of the Year honor.
Red Sox second baseman and Arizona State product Dustin Pedroia won the American League award, while the Orioles and Royals tied for first in the team category.
Parra, who was recently named a Gold Glove recipient for the second time in his career, led all NL outfielders and tied for the major league lead with 17 assists, tying the Royals'
Alex Gordon for most in the majors. Parra had a .986 fielding percentage in a career-high 155 games played.
The D-backs finished tied for first in the NL in field percentage at .988 and fewest errors with 75. They led
all NL clubs in defensive runs saved with 86 and a 51.1 zone rating, an advanced metric that includes arm
strength, double plays turned, range and errors.
The winners of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award, founded in 2012, are determined by using a formula that balances scouting input, sabermetric analysis and standard fielding statistics.
