Every year the top fielders at each position are awarded the prestigious Rawlings® Gold Glove Award. This year's winners:

CATCHER
Russell Martin, Hillsborough
Martin, in his first DMBL season, was a solid batter, but his work behind the plate helped the young Hillsborough pitching staff develop. Martin's .999 fielding percentage led the league and he also led the league in total chances per game (9.17). Baserunners stole at 67% success rate, good enough for fifth in the league.

FIRST BASE
Todd Helton, Marietta
Marietta's Helton, often known more for his stick than his glove, finally earned his first Gold Glove award. Helton was third in the league with a .998 fielding percentage, second in putouts, fourth in assists, and second in double plays.

SECOND BASE
Josh Barfield, Sardine City
In his rookie campaign for the rookie team, Barfield impressed on the field. Barfield ranked fourth with a .981 fielding percentage and led the league in total chances per game with 5.52. Barfield was also second in double plays turned with 129.

THIRD BASE
Eric Chavez, Honolulu
It's interesting that someone with Chavez's defensive reputation has never won the DMBL Gold Glove, but that all changed this year. Chavez led the league with a .986 fielding percentage at the hot corner and was second in total chances per game with 2.70. Despite being platooned with Rich Aurilia, Chavez also finished ninth overall in double plays.

SHORTSTOP
Michael Young, shortstop
This was the most hotly contested battle among all the Gold Gloves. Marietta's Derek Jeter and Carolina's Billy Hall were also neck to neck to neck with Young, but someone had to break the tie. Young finished with a .975 fielding percentage and 4.81 chances per game. He led the league in shortstop assists and finished sixth in double plays.

LEFT FIELD
Shane Victorino, Las Vegas
Victorino came out of nowhere to post solid numbers for the Rats. Victorino posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while playing most of his games in left field (he also played 52 games in center field). Victorino averaged 2.62 chances per game between the two positions and compiled 11 outfield assists.

CENTER FIELD
Grady Sizemore, Carolina
Sizemore may have been slightly disappointing at the plate, but he kept his end of the bargain in the field. Sizemore also was perfect in center field, making zero errors, while leading the league in outfield assists (23). Sizemore, like Victorino, did spend all season in center, playing in 50 games in right field.

RIGHT FIELD
Ichiro Suzuki, New Jersey
Both expansion franchises were represented this year, as Ichiro becomes the third member of the flawlessly fielding trifecta. Like our other two candidates, Ichiro spent time in center field, starting 49 games there. Ichiro also had 12 outfield assists between the two positions.

PITCHER
Roy Halladay, Carolina
Halladay led all pitchers in total chances with 58 and was second in total chances per game (2.37). Halladay topped all pitchers in assists (37) and putouts (21), and committed no errors.