photo: Kolten Wong (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports Images)
Kolten Wong is coming into his own and being recognized for it across the game.
The St. Louis Cardinals second baseman was named the winner of the 2018 Fielding Bible Award at his position by Sports Information Solutions (SIS). It is the first major MLB-wide award for Wong in a career that began in 2014.
The 27-year old edged the 2017 winner, D.J. LeMahieu of Colorado, in a close vote. Wong led all Major League players at his position in Defensive Runs Saved with 19.
The 2018 Fielding Bible Award for 2nd Base goes to @KoltenWong of the @Cardinals .
Wong led all 2B in Defensive Runs Saved, improved in the stat by 20 runs from 2017. pic.twitter.com/gLJmDilqMY
— SIS (@SportsInfo_SIS) October 29, 2018
In results by other Cardinals, Harrison Bader scored fifth in the Fielding Bible Award for center field and came in second to Chicago Cub Javier Baez in the Multi-Position scoring. (Baez was sixth at second base only this year and also won the Multi-Position Award in 2016 and 2017.)
SIS added the Multi-Position award, effectively a 10th position, in 2014 to recognize the defensive skills of those who play different positions in a season.
Yadier Molina finished just 18th among catchers.
Marcell Ozuna was seventh in left field. Same for Paul DeJong at shortstop.
Prior to Wong, no Cardinals had won one of the 10 Fielding Bible Awards since Jason Heyward received the honors for his right field play in 2015, his only season with St. Louis. Molina was last recognized as the top catcher in 2012 and 2013.
The Fielding Bible Awards are selected by a 12-person panel that includes Bill James, SIS founder John Dewan, Peter Gammons, Joe Posnanski, Rob Neyer and SABR president Vince Gennaro.
All scoring for this, and prior years, can be viewed here: https://fieldingbible.com/complete-votetally.asp
What is next
Not related to the Fielding Bible Awards, the Gold Glove Awards for 2018 will be announced on Sunday, November 4. Molina and Wong are among the top three vote-getters at their respective positions in the National League. Unlike the Fielding Bible honors, which are MLB-wide, Gold Gloves are awarded by league.
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