Last year and this year we’ve expanded the field for Defensive Player of the Month honorees often selecting three players for the honor. For August we’re going to go four-deep, two in each league, to cover four different positions.
Here are our four selections.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts won for the second time in three months and it was well-earned. His 9 Runs Saved led not only shortstops but all positions for August. Take a look at this play against Ke’Bryan Hayes, this one against Xander Bogaerts and this one against Manny Machado.
Betts has a legitimate chance to win a Fielding Bible Award, which would be his 7th, snapping a tie with Yadier Molina for most since the award was first given in 2006. He has 16 Runs Saved this season, 1 shy of Taylor Walls for the MLB lead at shortstop (and 1 more than Corey Seager, who has also had a terrific defensive season).
Nathan Lukes
Nathan Lukes totaled 5 Runs Saved in August. His 4 in right field matched Dylan Crews of the Nationals for most at the position. He also had 1 Run Saved in left field.
Our Data Scouts award Good Fielding Plays and Defensive Misplays for different things that happen on defense. His 9 Good Fielding Plays matched teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the most by any player for the month. Lukes had 1 error and no Defensive Misplays.
Lukes had one of the most impressive defensive games this season on August 15 against the Rangers. He made a leaping catch in the first inning, a throw to nail a batter trying for a double for one out in the second inning, and a leaping catch for another out.
Lukes has 8 Runs Saved in total from playing all three outfield spots. The only player with more than his 6 Outfield Arm Runs Saved is Steven Kwan (7).
Xavier Edwards
Last month we honored Marlins shortstop Otto López. This month his infield mate, Xavier Edwards gets the nod. He led all second basemen with 6 Runs Saved in August, had 4 Good Fielding Plays and no Defensive Misplays and Errors. His 13 Runs Saved at second base rank second in MLB at the position and validate the midseason switch that moved him off shortstop, where he has -11 career Runs Saved over 110 games.
Edwards’ highlights included both the incredible play (check out this diving catch) and the heads-up play (a surprising double play on a popup, watch him repeatedly look to see where the runner was).
Maikel Garcia
There aren’t many opportunities for a third baseman other than Ke’Bryan Hayes or Matt Chapman to win this award, so we felt that Maikel Garcia’s MLB-best 6 Runs Saved at third base in August made him worthy.
Garcia’s 8 Runs Saved overall rank tied for fourth at the position this season.
Garcia made 4 barehand plays in August (including this one and this one). His 11 this season are 1 shy of Alex Bregman for the lead among third basemen.
Garcia probably won’t win a Fielding Bible Award this year but he’s done enough to share Player of the Month and played himself into a legit shot at an AL Gold Glove Award.