There were a few dozen instances in 2024 of a team’s position group finishing the year with -10 Defensive Runs Saved or worse. For example, Giants center fielders totaled -24 Runs Saved, Padres catchers had -17, and Phillies shortstops tallied -13. There were more than 30 others.

It’s reasonable to say that the teams in those situations would benefit from specific defensive improvements, like trying out new players at those spots or working with the struggling defenders to find ways to improve.

Some teams are still having trouble defensively at those positions. Some have improved. And some have improved a lot.

In fact, as of Thursday, there are three teams that totaled at least -10 Runs Saved at a position in 2024 that have the most Runs Saved at that position in 2025.

 Seven players combined for -13 Runs Saved at the hot corner for the Tigers last season, with Gio Urshela and his -5 being the chief culprit. This year, sans Urshela, four Tigers have combined for a major-league best 7 Runs Saved at third base.

 There’s been a playing time split among the quartet of Jace Jung, Andy Ibáñez, Zach McKinstry and Javier Báez. None of them have started more than 14 games there but each of them has at least 1 Run Saved. Jung, a top prospect whom the Tigers wanted to win the starting spot, was just sent to the minors because he wasn’t hitting.

With Connor Wong missing nearly a month due to injury, Boston turned to Carlos Narváez, who was touted as a strong defensive catcher when he was obtained from the Yankees this past offseason. Narváez has thus far delivered with 6 Runs Saved. Wong has looked better than he did last season. In 2024, he had -14 Runs Saved. In 2025 he has 3.

-13 Runs Saved in 2024

8 Runs Saved in 2025 (tied for MLB lead)

The Pirates’ shortcomings this year are pretty much all on their offense. The defense has actually been pretty good in most spots. In left field, Tommy Pham, who had a rough time with the White Sox last season, has 7 Runs Saved, including a home run robbery. It’s been a while since Pham managed a full season of numbers that good. He had 11 Runs Saved as a left fielder in 2017.

The Twins took a good center fielder in Harrison Bader and moved him to left field. That fixed their defensive issues there. Bader has 5 Runs Saved in left field and 3 in center field filling in for Byron Buxton.

-9 Runs Saved in 2024 (1 shy of our criteria)

8 Runs Saved in 2025 (MLB leader)

Bringing in Max Fried (3 Runs Saved) and Ryan Yarbrough (2) paid dividends. Fried has a strong defensive history. He won a Fielding Bible Award in 2020. Also, props to Carlos Rodon, who allowed 21 stolen bases against 4 caught stealing last season but has yielded only 2 stolen bases with 2 caught stealing in 2025.