Mariners' Ackley awarded for defensive prowess

SEATTLE -- Dustin Ackley has been named the Mariners' recipient of the 2013 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award, an honor that goes to one player from each Major League club.

Ackley split time between second base and the outfield and performed well enough at both positions that he was selected as the Mariners' top glove man.

Ackley played 53 games at second base without an error in 231 total chances. He committed one error in 59 games in the outfield, including 50 in center field, in 136 total chances. The club went 25-21 in the 46 games he started in center field after transitioning to the outfield in midseason.

In its second year, the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winners are determined by using a formula that balances scouting information, sabermetric analysis and basic fielding statistics. Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and D-backs outfielder Gerardo Parra won the American League and National League Player of the Year awards, respectively.

The Diamondbacks were named the NL's Defensive Team of the Year honors, while the Orioles and Royals tied for the AL award.

Ackley is also one of 30 finalists for the GIBBYs Defensive Play of the Year Award for his sliding catch at the outfield wall in Houston that helped Taijuan Walker out in Walker's Major League debut.

The GIBBYs trophy for Defensive Player of the Year will be awarded as part of the 2013 Greatness in Baseball Yearly Awards, which are based on voting by media, front-office personnel, MLB alumni and the Society for American Baseball Research, as well as fan balloting on MLB.com.

Voting launched on Oct. 31 and will continue through Dec. 1. Fans will be able to cast their ballots at MLB.com for the year's top defensive star, with no individual league affiliation.