Per our statistics, the best outfield defense this season has been played by Tampa Bay Rays right fielders.

But there’s something unusual about this, just as there often seems to be something unusual about the successful Rays teams. Rather than the work of one player, this right field performance has been a group effort. 

Eight players have played right field for Tampa Bay this season. Four of them have played at least 15 games there and they’re the ones who have combined for the MLB-best Defensive 12 Runs Saved. None have played more than 22 games in right field.  

Projected starter Josh Lowe strained an oblique on Opening Day and didn’t play another game until May 15. It took a village to fill in for him and that group, which includes José Caballero, Jake Mangum, and Kameron Misner, was impressive in Lowe’s absence.

This is how the Rays function. They don’t have the big money to pay an Aaron Judge or even a George Springer. So they build depth and versatility and find players who didn’t get to the major leagues right away.

Caballero has done the Ben Zobrist thing and then some. He’s the superutility man, having played second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, and right field, the latter for the first time in his pro career.

Mangum is a 29-year-old rookie who has started between 8 and 13 games at the three outfield spots. He’s got speed (10 stolen bases) and it looks like he can play a little defense too.

Misner is a 27-year-old rookie who has primarily played center field in place of injured Jonny DeLuca but has played both of the other outfield spots too. He’s got 4 Runs Saved in center field and 2 in right field.

Each of those plays above was judged as a “Good Fielding Play,” as tracked by our Data Scouts. The Caballero catch was a home run robbery, which added 1.6 runs to the value of making the play. 

Rays right fielders are tied for the lead at the position with 13 Good Fielding Plays. Just as important, they also have 3 Defensive Misplays & Errors, the fewest of any team. 

Rays Right Fielders in 2025

Since Lowe returned he’s gotten most of the playing time there and he’s been good too. 

Lowe has 5 Runs Saved, which isn’t unusual for him. He had 6 Runs Saved there in 2023, though he slipped to -2 last season. His best defensive moment was this play, which earned a “What a throw from Lowe” from Marlins broadcaster Rod Allen.

Lowe’s return coincided with the Rays getting hot. Tampa Bay is 17-4 when he starts this season. 

But it’s fair to say what the Rays got both in his presence and in his absence has been highly valuable. The Rays haven’t missed a beat at the position. Once again, it’s typical Tampa Bay Rays, which means getting things done in unexpected ways and winning regardless of how they do it. The team as a whole has done it too. It ranks 4th overall in Runs Saved this season.

For more Rays talk, check out the latest episode of The Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast.