MLB: Interesting Statistical Accomplishments in 2016

Chase Utley does not ground into a double play

Typically, when one thinks of a player who is difficult to double up, the top speedsters in baseball would come to mind. However, 37 year old Chase Utley managed to get through the entire 2016 campaign without grounding into a single double play.

It is not as though Utley discovered some new found gift of speed. He stole only two bases in four attempts, so he was not burning up the basepaths. However, he just had a knack of hitting the ball in the right spot, making it so that he was unable to be doubled up.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Villar, who led the MLB with 61 steals, grounded into seven double plays. Billy Hamilton, who may well be the fastest man in the game, had five double plays. Meanwhile, Utley, who would likely not win a footrace down the first base line with those two with a ten foot head start, managed to go all year without grounding into a double play.

In MLB history, this is the third highest amount of plate appearances without a double play. Craig Biggio set the record in 1997 by not grounding into a double play in his 744 plate appearances, and Dick McAulliffe went 658 plate appearances without a GiDP in 1968. Utley, however, is the oldest player to go all season without a GiDP and have over 250 plate appearances.

Sometimes, there is a bit of luck involved in a statistical achievement. In this case, with the not-so-fleet footed Chase Utley avoiding a twin killing despite 563 plate appearances, more than a bit of luck was needed.