Hill, Rios Awarded Fielding Bible Awards

The 2007 Fielding Bible Awards have been announced and the right side of the Blue Jays defense fared very well. Second baseman Aaron Hill and right fielder Alex Rios each won for their respective position, a year after the Toronto franchise was not represented in the first ever awards.

In only his second year as a starter at second base, the Visalia, CA native was frequently compared to ex-Blue Jay Roberto Alomar (in a tie for the most home runs -17- by a Blue Jays second baseman and surpassing him in doubles in a single season, 47) and former teammate Orlando Hudson (who ranked second with eighty points, two behind Hill, for the award), with a range, aggressiveness and arm strength that cemented him as a fan favorite for the future. This award will now make every baseball fans aware of the 25-year-old’s talent.

Here are a few numbers he posted last season on the field:

+22: led the majors for the last two years with this plus/minus rating system.

14: errors he committed in 160 games played (158 started). No second baseman was involved or started in more games than him.

114: successful double plays in which he was involved, 3rd in major league baseball.

5.13: his range factor, 6th in major league baseball.

.849: his zone rating, 3rd in major league baseball.

For his part, Alexis Israel Rios has now put baseball on notice that he can inflict damage at the plate and on defense on a consistent basis. The 26-year-old made only five errors in 147 games played (139 started) and was part of one of the best outfield in MLB. He spent time in center field (22 games played in 2007) at the end of the season as a substitute to Vernon Wells who went under the knife for a shoulder injury.

Here are some interesting numbers from the past season:

+12: plus/minus rating.

73: points he earned by the panel. Austin Kearns (Washington) ranked second with 66.

10: assist as a right fielder, 6th in major league baseball.

.817: zone rating.