The Fielding Bible honors differ from the Gold Gloves in that the two leagues’ defenders are lumped together at every position. Wong, made a free agent by the Cardinals on Wednesday when they didn’t pick up his $12.5 million option for next year, won the major league Fielding Bible award by one point over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernandez and O’Neill was an easier winner in left field over Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds. Both Wong and O’Neill, along with Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, were named as three finalists for Gold Gloves earlier this week.
According to BIS statistics, Wong, who won the Fielding Bible award for a record third consecutive year at second base, accounted for 40 runs saved at this position, easily the most for any second baseman the past three years.