On defence the Toronto Blue Jays struck gold, taking home the Team Gold Glove Award after a strong campaign in the field, MLB announced Friday.
After third baseman Matt Chapman, centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier and pitcher Jose Berrios were given the individual awards earlier in the week, the rest of the roster was honoured with the team-wide award, certifying them as the best defence in the American League.
One part of their game this season that was never a point of concern was the fielding, as the Blue Jays finished sixth in MLB runs allowed per game with 4.14, second in put-outs with 4355, fifth in fielding percentage with 98.8 per cent, and first in defensive runs saved with 85, a towering 17 more than the second place Milwaukee Brewers at 68.
Leading the way in defensive runs saved was their outfield tandem of Daulton Varsho at 29 and Kiermaier at 18, proving good on the team's offseason goal of shoring up their defence in the outfield. Catcher Alejandro Kirk pitched in 17 of his own while Chapman led AL third basemen with 12.
Varsho, who didn't win an individual Gold Glove, had the most defensive runs saved in MLB.
The Milwaukee Brewers took home the team-wide award in the National League after finishing with their NL-leading 68 defensive runs saved despite none of their players winning an individual Gold Glove.
This is the fourth year that MLB has implemented the team-wide award and the first time that either team has won it.
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