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  • Stat of the Week: Defensive Runs Saved Leader- A Rangers Runaway

    Stat of the Week: Defensive Runs Saved Leader- A Rangers Runaway

    Photo: Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire

    BY MARK SIMON

    The Rangers, fresh off a sweep of the Brewers, lead the majors with 97 Defensive Runs Saved. They’re 24 runs clear of the No. 2 team (Cubs) and 46 runs ahead of the No. 3 team (Braves). If you were to say they were the best defensive team in the majors, we’d have a hard time disagreeing.

    That they are this good is impressive though not necessarily surprising. We noted in our preseason preview series that the Rangers had the potential to be one of the best defensive teams, though they didn’t get there in the manner that we thought they would. 

    In theory, they’re staggering to the finish line given an abundance of injuries to some of their top defensive performers. But in practice they’ve won 14 of 18 and are a season-high seven games over .500 with postseason hopes very much alive.

    In fact, two of their top three defensive players are out. Shortstop Corey Seager had an appendectomy and hasn’t played since August 27. Right fielder Adolis García is out with an ankle injury and last played on September 1.

    Seager has had by far the best defensive season of his career. He’s third among shortstops with 16 Runs Saved. He’s never finished a season with more than 6 Runs Saved at the position. 

    He’s much more about consistency than flash. We track Good Fielding Plays, which encompass highlight-reel plays and also things like keeping a ball on the infield to prevent baserunner advancement. Seager has only 4 this season, which isn’t even in the top 30 among shortstops. But his range rates well above average on balls hit either to his left or his right.

    García has twice been honored as a Defensive Player of the Month for his excellence this season, winning for May and July. His 16 Runs Saved are the most he’s had in right field in any season (he had 15 in only 51 games in 2021). It represents a big bounceback from his -5 Runs Saved last season. In particular he’s been very good on balls hit to the shallowest part of the outfield.

    The other Rangers player with great defensive numbers is outfielder Wyatt Langford, who ranks second with 11 Runs Saved in left field and also has 5 Runs Saved in center field, filling the latter position after Evan Carter (4 Runs Saved) suffered a season-ending injury. Langford has covered much more ground than he did last season. He’s made 13 more plays than the average left fielder and 6 more plays than the average center fielder. His 19 combined Plays Saved is well more than his 2 in 2024.

    The Rangers have 10 Runs Saved at three positions (shortstop and both corner outfield spots). The one team that has them beat is the Blue Jays, who have 10 Runs Saved at five different positions, but they’re -12 in right field and -13 at shortstop. The Rangers don’t have any defensive holes that big.

    Other Rangers with notable Runs Saved totals are injured second baseman Marcus Semien (6) and also backup catcher Kyle Higashioka (4). The most surprising position where the Rangers are positive in Runs Saved is first base. Jake Burger has played there the most and has 0 Runs Saved. But occasionally-used Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith have combined for 6 in 52 games. 

    There are two players with good reputations but surprisingly poor Runs Saved: Gold Glove-winning catcher Jonah Heim (-6) and third baseman Josh Jung (one of three third basemen on the team at -2). Jung was outstanding in the 2023 postseason but has not been able to match that level of play in either 2024 or 2025.

    The Rangers and Cubs have nearly identical Runs Saved with regards to the skill aspects of defense. But where the Rangers separate from the Cubs and other teams is in defensive positioning. 

    They have 21 Runs Saved from infield positioning, which ranks tied for seventh. They get almost all of their credit for that for putting fielders in good spots to make plays on partial shifts, situations where the defense plays a second baseman or shortstop adjacent to second base and maneuvers other defenders accordingly. And they have 7 Runs Saved from their outfield positioning, a total topped by only three teams.

    The combination of skill and positioning has produced a team that easily ranks No. 1 in how often they turn grounders and bunts into outs (77% of the time) and No. 7 on how often they turn flies, line drives and popups into outs (69% out rate).

    They’re the only team to be top seven in both and that pretty much sums up why they are where they are defensively.

    Rangers Defensive Runs Saved – 2025 Season

    Notable Ranks

    Runs Saved Rank
    Shortstop 18 1st
    Left Field 11 4th
    Center Field 9 6th
    Right Field 18 2nd
    Infield Positioning 21 T-7th
    Outfield Positioning 7 T-4th

     

  • The Guardians Have Done Great Work For Gavin Williams

    The Guardians Have Done Great Work For Gavin Williams

    Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams is having a nice close to 2025 and a good season overall, with a 3.26 ERA. But if any pitcher ever needed to buy his fielders dinner (or something nicer) for their work this year, he’s the guy.

    Williams has a 4.54 FIP, the product of 4.6 walks per 9 and 1.3 home runs per 9. Normally we would ascribe “luck” (in whatever form you might think) as the reason for Williams’ surface-level success. But his 3.26 ERA is a true team effort.

    Cleveland’s defense has 16 Runs Saved on the batted balls against Williams, the most of any pitcher in the majors. 

    Additionally, the defense behind him has been aesthetically pleasing. SIS tracks Good Fielding Plays, which includes highlight-reel plays and things like cutting off a ball in the gap to hold a batter to a single or deking a baserunner.

    The Guardians have 33 Good Fielding Plays when Williams pitches. That’s the most by any team for a pitcher this season. They have 13 Defensive Misplays & Errors when he pitches (Misplays are an additional thing we track- things that produce a negative consequence for the defense but aren’t errors, like slipping and falling or overthrowing a cutoff man). 

    By comparison, the pitcher with the second-best defensive support, Jacob DeGrom, has gotten 15 Runs Saved on his batted balls, which is roughly the same number as Williams. The Rangers have made 11 Good Fielding Plays and 9 Defensive Misplays & Errors. 

    Here’s a list of the pitchers with the most defensive support this season, along with the Good Play and Misplay & Error totals for their teams.

    Pitcher Team Runs Saved 

    (Good Plays-Misplays)
    Gavin Williams Guardians 16 (33-13)
    Jacob deGrom Rangers 15 (11-9)
    Nathan Eovaldi Rangers 14 (7-9)
    Merrill Kelly Dbacks-Rangers 14 (22-14)
    Hunter Brown Astros 13 (16-7)

    Let’s give you a sense of what we’re talking about with Williams. To do that, we can go back just one start, when he pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Athletics. It could have been two runs but not for this extraordinary catch by Steven Kwan. I’m not one to often hand out superlatives, but by our calculations this is ‘Catch of the Year’ territory, a play with an 8% out probability.

     

    The big run savers for Williams have been outfielder Daniel Schneemann and shortstop Gabriel Arias. We don’t express Defensive Runs Saved to a decimal point but for the purposes of this article, we’ll note that each has about 2.5 Runs Saved on the balls hit against him.

    Here’s a diving catch by Schneemann on a ball with a 11% out probability.

    And here’s a ‘nifty play’ by Arias ranging well to his left to get an out on a ball with a 39% out probability.

     

    Of the 16 Runs Saved for Williams, roughly 9 come from the skill of Guardians defenders (range for infielders and outfielders and throwing for infielders). Another 7 runs come from Cleveland’s defensive positioning, tied for the third-most by any team for a pitcher (the Rays have 9 runs of positioning for Shane Baz and the Dodgers have 8 behind Clayton Kershaw).

    Here’s a good example of the value of positioning. This ball, hit by Jeff McNeil of the Mets, is an out 87% of the time given where second baseman Brayan Rocchio is playing. 

     

    But if we didn’t know Rocchio’s defensive positioning, ground balls hit to that spot at that speed are an out only 20% of the time. The Guardians get a team credit for improving the out probability from 20% to 87%. Williams took a no-hit bid into the ninth inning of that game. Though C.J. Kayfus made a diving catch in the seventh inning, the defense on that McNeil at-bat was the most important in terms of denying a hit in the first eight innings of that game.

    One more example of good positioning: Kayfus makes a nice reaching catch on a fly ball hit towards the right field line here, a ball on which his positioning improved the out probability from 19% to 82%.

     

    I’ll note that we’re only looking at batted balls here but if we looked at other things, Williams would probably benefit too. Basestealers are 6-for-12 against him this season and Williams has helped his own cause with 3 pickoffs. 

    Williams has 3 Defensive Runs Saved this season, all from limiting stolen bases. He deserves some of the defensive credit too, though it’s his teammates who have been true Guardians of the baseball galaxy when it comes to watching out for him this season.

  • Vote Myles Straw For ‘Reliever of the Year’

    Vote Myles Straw For ‘Reliever of the Year’

    Photo: Matthew Tsang/Icon Sportswire

    The BBWAA just voted to add a Relief Pitcher of the Year category. And though it won’t be awarded until 2026, we’d like to open a loophole to cast our vote for 2025, under the similar title of ‘Reliever of the Year’: Blue Jays center fielder Myles Straw.

    The Blue Jays have two closers these days. One is pitcher Jeff Hoffman who has 30 saves in 37 opportunities amidst a 4.94 ERA.

    They don’t have to worry as much about the other one,  Straw.

    Straw has made 60 starts and 57 ‘relief appearances,’ so to speak. The latter have been more frequent recently. He’s come off the bench as a defensive replacement in 14 of his last 19 appearances, which coincides with the return of center fielder Daulton Varsho on August 1.

    We bring this all up because Straw is having a phenomenal season. He has 16 Runs Saved in center field, second-most at the position (despite ranking 26th in innings played) and 3 more in left field. The Blue Jays deploy him late in games, usually to protect leads or keep games close because he’s so good defensively.

    Just look at what he did in two games (starts) against the Brewers to close out August. He had a hat trick: a home run robbery, a diving catch, and an outfield assist.

     

     

     

    Past criteria suggests that Straw won’t be eligible for a Gold Glove Award. The usual threshold for eligibility has typically been measured at a team’s 138th game (the Blue Jays have now played 139) and Straw was about 80 innings short of what’s been needed in past seasons to qualify to be voted on (position players needed 698 innings).

    Straw will be eligible for a Fielding Bible Award, at minimum as a center fielder and possibly as a multi-position player (the latter is based on criteria related to his season-ending innings totals and how often he plays different positions).

    He’ll face extremely tough competition in center field in Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ceddanne Rafaela (among others). He’ll have a chance in the multi-position category, which Varsho won last year.

    There’s good competition for Straw there too, particularly from Astros utility man Mauricio Dubon and Marlins infielder Otto López. Those two players are in completely different situation. Dubon is skilled enough to start at a multitude of spots. López was great at second base and has been great at shortstop since the Marlins flipped him and Xavier Edwards

    Still, it feels like Straw merits his own category based on his combination of skills and usage. Maybe there needs to be something like Relief Pitcher of the Year for defense too.

  • August Defensive Players of the Month

    August Defensive Players of the Month

    Last year and this year we’ve expanded the field for Defensive Player of the Month honorees often selecting three players for the honor. For August we’re going to go four-deep, two in each league, to cover four different positions.

    Here are our four selections.

    Mookie Betts

    Mookie Betts won for the second time in three months and it was well-earned. His 9 Runs Saved led not only shortstops but all positions for August. Take a look at this play against Ke’Bryan Hayes, this one against Xander Bogaerts and this one against Manny Machado.

    Betts has a legitimate chance to win a Fielding Bible Award, which would be his 7th, snapping a tie with Yadier Molina for most since the award was first given in 2006. He has 16 Runs Saved this season, 1 shy of Taylor Walls for the MLB lead at shortstop (and 1 more than Corey Seager, who has also had a terrific defensive season).

    Nathan Lukes

    Nathan Lukes totaled 5 Runs Saved in August. His 4 in right field matched Dylan Crews of the Nationals for most at the position. He also had 1 Run Saved in left field.

    Our Data Scouts award Good Fielding Plays and Defensive Misplays for different things that happen on defense. His 9 Good Fielding Plays matched teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the most by any player for the month. Lukes had 1 error and no Defensive Misplays.

    Lukes had one of the most impressive defensive games this season on August 15 against the Rangers. He made a leaping catch in the first inning, a throw to nail a batter trying for a double for one out in the second inning, and a leaping catch for another out.

    Lukes has 8 Runs Saved in total from playing all three outfield spots. The only player with more than his 6 Outfield Arm Runs Saved is Steven Kwan (7).

    Xavier Edwards

    Last month we honored Marlins shortstop Otto López. This month his infield mate, Xavier Edwards gets the nod. He led all second basemen with 6 Runs Saved in August, had 4 Good Fielding Plays and no Defensive Misplays and Errors. His 13 Runs Saved at second base rank second in MLB at the position and validate the midseason switch that moved him off shortstop, where he has -11 career Runs Saved over 110 games.

    Edwards’ highlights included both the incredible play (check out this diving catch) and the heads-up play (a surprising double play on a popup, watch him repeatedly look to see where the runner was).

    Maikel Garcia

    There aren’t many opportunities for a third baseman other than Ke’Bryan Hayes or Matt Chapman to win this award, so we felt that Maikel Garcia’s MLB-best 6 Runs Saved at third base in August made him worthy.

    Garcia’s 8 Runs Saved overall rank tied for fourth at the position this season.

    Garcia made 4 barehand plays in August (including this one and this one). His 11 this season are 1 shy of Alex Bregman for the lead among third basemen.

    Garcia probably won’t win a Fielding Bible Award this year but he’s done enough to share Player of the Month and played himself into a legit shot at an AL Gold Glove Award.

  • Stat of the Week: No. 1 MLB Prospect Konnor Griffin Is A Defensive Standout

    Stat of the Week: No. 1 MLB Prospect Konnor Griffin Is A Defensive Standout

    Photo:Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire

    BY MARK SIMON

    Each of the top six players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list has shortstop as either their sole position or the position they spend the most time playing.

    No. 1 overall prospect Konnor Griffin of the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate in Altoona stands out from the others not just because he’s hitting .330 with 16 home runs and 64 stolen bases this season. Griffin’s defensive game also separates him from the rest of the group.

    SIS tracks Defensive Runs Saved in the minor leagues in addition to the major leagues, NPB, and KBO. We judge minor leaguers using major league out probabilities and as a result of that, most minor leaguers have negative Runs Saved totals.

    But the 19-year-old Griffin is a special case. His 7 Runs Saved at shortstop this season has been surpassed by only one player at the position, Maximo Acosta, who has 8 and was just called up to the majors by the Marlins.

    Here’s how Griffin compares within the top six overall prospects in Runs Saved as a shortstop.

    Defensive Runs Saved As Shortstop – Top 6 Minor League Prospects

    Player Organization Runs Saved
    Konnor Griffin Pirates 7
    Kevin McGonigle Tigers -2
    JJ Wetherholt Cardinals -2
    Sebastian Walcott Rangers -4
    Jesus Made Brewers -6
    Leo De Vries Athletics -15

    Griffin was a guest on this week’s Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast with me this week. At 6-foot-4 he’s big for a shortstop, but he likes to attack ground balls and field them one-handed. He models his defensive game after Bobby Witt Jr.

    “Being aggressive is the best advice I’ve had,” Griffin said. “I would just kind of wait back and in this game you gotta go get it and, you gotta make good throws because the runners are fast and the game speeds up at each level.”

    Griffin can get it done at other positions too. He sees himself as a shortstop first and center field as a tool in his toolbox. He has 0 Runs Saved in a handful of innings in center but it looks like a good tool. Take a look at the catch he made as a center fielder against Anthony Volpe in spring training.

    “That was a moment I’ll remember forever,” Griffin said. “I was 18 then and [my teammates] saw a kid playing among men. They were excited any time I did anything.”

    For now, Griffin is in Double-A, but given how he’s playing and his quick ascent, it’s looking like there will be plenty more celebrating of what Griffin can do in the near future.

    You can listen to our interview with Konnor Griffin here.

  • The Defensive Excellence And Dominance of Nico Hoerner

    The Defensive Excellence And Dominance of Nico Hoerner

    Photo: Melissa Tamez, Icon Sportswire

    Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is currently routing the rest of the field in Defensive Runs Saved at his position. He also trails only his teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong, Rays shortstop Taylor Walls, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts in Defensive Wins Above Replacement.

    Most Defensive Runs Saved – Second Base, 2025 Season

    Player Team Runs Saved
    Nico Hoerner Cubs 19
    Xavier Edwards Marlins 9
    Brice Turang Brewers 9
    Tyler Fitzgerald Giants 8
    David Hamilton Red Sox 8

    When I see gaps that wide between the No. 1 and No. 2 players at a position, I like to dig into why the gap is so large.

    In Hoerner’s case, there is a pretty easy answer.

    Our version of MLB’s Outs Above Average is Plays Saved, a stat that has existed since the first season for which Defensive Runs Saved was first calculated, 2003 (we called it plus-minus then). It’s basically the same concept as OAA – how many more plays did a player make than the average player at his position, which can be broken down directionally (left, right, and straight-on).

    By our measures, Hoerner has a +16 plays saved on balls hit to his right. No other infielder is better than +11 or better at making plays in any direction this season*. Hoerner has made 113 plays on 182 opportunities**. The expectation is that an average fielder would make 97 of them.

    * Ke’Bryan Hayes is + 11 on balls hit to his right at third base.

     ** Opportunities = plays with a > 0% out probability.

    The excellence on balls hit to his right is a new development. Hoerner has played second base regularly the last two years and was +4 and +1 on those plays.

    The types of plays that help produce this sort of stat take on a few different forms. Here are three valuable ones for Hoerner this season.

    Here’s Hoerner staying on his feet and going across second base to reach a ball and throw out Jacob Wilson of the Athletics.

     

     

    Here’s another play of that nature. This time the Cubs defense is shifted, so it’s a little easier for him to get to the ball. He still has to make a shortstop’s throw to first base from where he’s standing and given that he’s played shortstop in past seasons, that’s not an issue.

     

    Here’s a diving play against the very fast Elly De La Cruz. Dives are a low percentage play for Hoerner, as they are for most second basemen, but that one worked.

     

    If Hoerner’s play looks familiar to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, it should. Defensive Runs Saved was calculated a little differently when Counsell played, as good positioning was credited to the player rather than the team.

    As such, Counsell has Hoerner beat. In 2005 Counsell was a +24 on balls hit to his right on the way to a season with 30 Runs Saved. From a defensive perspective, it was an all-timer of a season. Counsell still shares the single-season record for most Runs Saved by a second baseman with Chase Utley. Hoerner’s season may not reach that level, but it’s looking like a great one too.

  • SIS Interview: Marlins Shortstop Otto López

    SIS Interview: Marlins Shortstop Otto López

    Marlins shortstop Otto López was one of our Defensive Player of the Month selections for July. Otto has had a terrific defensive season, playing well both at second base, where he has 6 Defensive Runs Saved and shortstop where he has 5. We got to talk to Otto on The Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast earlier this week to learn more about how he does what he does. Here’s what he had to say. The interview has been edited for clarity.

    SIS: What is the earliest memory that you have of making a great play on defense?

    Otto López: First of all, thank you for the (Player of the Month).

    I remember a few plays, diving catches and things like that.

    But back in the days when I was really, really young when I started learning baseball and stuff in Dominican Republic, where I born, we play with the caps (bottlecaps). I was playing with the big guys and I was the only younger guy.

    And it’s super hard to – when they hit those caps – to grab it. The reactions and all of that. It’s so difficult. And I think (catching one) was one of the most impressive plays I can remember.

    SIS: So how old were you when you did that? Like 10, 11, 12, something like that?

    Otto López: Yeah, I’ll go nine. Yeah, nine years old.

    SIS: You grew up in both the Dominican and Canada because of your father’s job, and I read an article from 2019 by Hayden Godfrey, and he said that you played basketball and hockey too. And I know that you can jump because I’ve watched a couple of leaping catches that you’ve made this season or catches to leap and where you’ve had to leap to catch a throw from someone.

    Did that come from basketball?

    Otto López: Probably not. It just came natural on that, on those plays that I make jumping and it’s probably the, the ability that I have.

    SIS: Did you get anything out of playing hockey?

    Otto López: Ooh. Probably the breaks (making cuts), but I can’t break much. I can’t break much in the field. The reaction probably came from badminton. I play a little bit too.

    SIS: Tell us about that.

    Otto López: Growing up, when I first got to Canada in school, we had a big tournament for us for badminton. And I just learned how to play a little bit and I keep doing it in my off season. Like I go once for a while just playing badminton, a little bit of pickleball and stuff.

    SIS: Are you good?

    Otto López: Well, considering the best player, no, but I’m pretty sure that I’m good. Yeah.

    SIS: All right. So baseball wise, the numbers show that you’re pretty comfortable at both positions in our stats. You do very well at shortstop and you do very well at second base. What’s playing shortstop like compared to playing second for you?

    Otto López: A little bit more movement and a stronger throw, of course. And just the mentality of it, like leadership. You gotta be communicating with your guys. Second base, you’re closer to first base you have a little more time to make sure you can just grab the ball and get your feet moving a little bit quicker.

    SIS: How is your relationship and like your synergy with Xavier Edwards on double plays at short as compared to when you guys were playing the other position?

    Otto López: It’s amazing. We communicate a lot. We’re trying to get on the same page every single time. In practice, we go on the field very early to do early work stuff, work on communication and be more comfortable doing double plays together.

    SIS: So I went looking through all your best plays this season, and I think my favorite is the diving stop and throw to first from your knees against Michael Harris. But I have to be more specific because you’ve done that twice this year. You did that once at second base and you did that once at shortstop.

    The shortstop one did look tougher. Do you remember that play? Can you take us through it a little bit?

    Otto López: Oh yeah, I remember that play. I know Harris. He is a fast guy. So right when he hit that ball, he hit it pretty hard to my right side and I dive forward. And when I throw the ball, I didn’t know it was like that.

    So I was trying to get it out quick, out of my hands, and when I throw that ball, it just, it just led to my guy making the extra play at first base. And, it was amazing. It was impressive.

    SIS: What’s another favorite?

    Otto López: I make a lot on shallow flyballs from the third base side. I make that run. I put my head down and just go for the ball. That’s, that’s one of the best ways that I like to make plays. Sometimes I go out there with Kyle Stowers and we have some (collisions) and stuff.

    SIS: Yeah. I was gonna say I saw a collision or two.

    Otto López: Ii’s pretty dangerous, but at the same time, we gotta make those plays. It’s hard ’cause you got, look at the ball, you gotta look at at your teammate and where they play. And at the same time, you’ve gotta look all around.

    SIS: Who are some of the people that have helped you as you’ve come up?

    Otto López: I was with Toronto before and I was a second baseman. I got a lot from Santiago, Espinal. Looking at him, I wanted to see how smooth he is with his hands. And he played with a small glove.

    When I got to San Francisco, the coaches just helped me a little bit more. When I got to the Marlins, it was complete. Jody Reed helped me a lot and now Tyler Smarslok this year. We’ll look at our numbers, look at what I can be better at. This spring, I worked with him on something very important for my defense now, my first step, knowing what pitch is coming and reacting before the batter hits the ball.

    SIS: What do you wanna get better at?

    Otto López: We always want to get better at something. I want to get a little stronger on my throws and get better on my first step so that I can get to the ball quicker.

    SIS: What’s the hardest thing about playing shortstop?

    Otto López: It’s reading. Reading and knowing the plays, all the plays like, like do this before that happens. You gotta think about if it’s a man and second or first, you gotta think about where you’re going to go if the ball is hit to any part of the field. It’s a little more difficult at shortstop. You gotta know everything that’s gonna happen before it happens.

    SIS: And one hitting question: You’ve done a lot better at controlling the strike zone this year. Strikeouts down, walks up, power up too. What happened there?

    Otto López: I get a little more low and don’t have too much movement. I’m just trying to be simple and just use a little bit of my legs and hip more.

    SIS: If a little kid, like a 10-year-old kidsaid to you, I wanna play like you do on defense, what would you tell him? For advice?

    Otto López: I would say just work harder every single day and you don’t ever give up. Just listen to your dad and mom. They are always gonna be the one who’s gonna be there from now on. And most important, focus on the little work and practice each day as if it’s your last.

    SIS: Nice. And play badminton too, right?

    Otto López: Oh, of course. Just have some time off and just play another sport to get you out of your (baseball) mind

    SIS: Yep. Otto López starting shortstop for the Miami Marlins. Thank you for taking the time to join us. Best of luck the rest of the year.

    Otto López: Thank you. Thank you so much.

  • Stat of the Week: Milwaukee’s Finest Defenders

    Stat of the Week: Milwaukee’s Finest Defenders

    Photo: Joe Robbins (L), Larry Radloff (R)/Icon Sportswire

    The Brewers have the best record in baseball and are 44-16 in their last 60 games. They’ve scored the second-most runs in baseball and allowed the fewest in that time. As you probably know, we’re more interested in the latter.

    Milwaukee ranks 11th in MLB in Defensive Runs Saved, down seven spots from their 2024 ranking. But they’re still a pretty good defensive team. 

    Since May 25 the Brewers have the 2nd-best rate of turning ground balls and bunts into outs (76%) and the 6th-best rate of turning balls hit in the air into outs (70%). For the season they’re 10th in the former (74%) and 4th in the latter (70%). 

    The Brewers defense is not quite what it was last year. It has been without Garrett Mitchell (shoulder surgery) and Blake Perkins (fractured shin) for most of the season, which meant that now-injured Jackson Chourio had to play center field. As such, the team that made 10 home run-robbing catches last season has but 1 in 2025 and the team’s center field defense has dropped from 18 to -7 Runs Saved. On the infield, while Brice Turang has 6 Runs Saved and he’s already made more errors and defensive misplays (24) than he did in 2024 (21).

    But we’re here to give credit and I want to give the team’s management credit for identifying a couple of players who were not on last year’s team who became helpful when the need arose. 

    Isaac Collins was a college second baseman and minor league utility player who was claimed off waivers from the Rockies in December 2022. After two seasons in the Brewers organization, Collins got the call as an outfielder this year. He’s saved 5 runs in left field and shown good range, which meshes pretty well with a .385 on-base percentage, 7 home runs, and 12 stolen bases.

    The Brewers obtained Caleb Durbin with Nestor Cortes in the trade that sent Devin Williams to the Yankees. The now 25-year-old Durbin was a 14th-round pick by the Braves out of Division III Washington University of St. Louis in 2021. 

    He played second base twice as often as he played third base in the minor leagues. But after Willy Adames signed with the Giants the Brewers moved Joey Ortiz to shortstop, and early this season made Durbin their everyday third baseman.

    Durbin has rewarded his team’s faith with 7 Runs Saved at third base, which ranks tied for 4th at the position. He’s shown good range, particularly to his left, and has kept his mistakes to a minimum. Durbin got hot when the Brewers got hot (or perhaps vice-versa). He’s hitting .306 with an .821 OPS since May 24.

    Neither Collins nor Durbin looks like your prototypical player. Collins is listed as 5-foot-8. Only Jose Altuve is shorter among regular left fielders (at least 40 games played). Durbin lists as the shortest regular in the majors at that position, 5-foot-7. 

    And while we’re here, we should note that the shortest regular right fielder, 5-foor-8 Sal Frelick, has 9 Runs Saved in right field and is having his second straight standout season for the team.

    Collins, Durbin, and Frelick have maximized what they’ve gotten out of their bodies and the Brewers have maximized what they’ve gotten from them.

  • July’s MLB Defensive Players of the Month

    July’s MLB Defensive Players of the Month

    There was a time not too long ago when it looked like Adolis García could get moved at the trade deadline. But now that the Rangers are winning, even though García isn’t hitting as well as he might like, his defensive value would be tough to lose.

    García was one of three players named Sports Info Solutions Defensive Player of the Month for July along with Marlins shortstop Otto López and Mets catcher Luis Torrens.

    García earned his second such honor this season (he also won it in May) on the strength of a period in which he saved 8 runs, more than anyone else in MLB and 3 more than any right fielder.

    García leads all right fielders with 17 Runs Saved this season. His single-season high at the position is 15 in 2021. Last season he had his worst defensive year, totaling -5 Runs Saved. But that, like the trade rumors, is well in the past.

    In addition to a bevvy of impressive catches, García has 6 Runs Saved from his outfield arm. He’s allowed only 38% of runners to advance an extra base on balls he’s fielded. The major league average is 50%, which comes out to about 11 “runner holds” better than the average player given the number of opportunities he’s had.

    This is not to say that García doesn’t come without risk. He had 7 Defensive Misplays & Errors in July, which also led right fielders, but we’ve deemed the risk is worth the reward here. He’ll be a strong candidate for a Fielding Bible Award at year’s end.

    —

    The Marlins made a position swap in mid-May, moving López to shortstop when Xavier Edwards got hurt. Edwards subsequently moved to López’s old position, second base upon his return and there’s been a very nice defensive payoff.

    López tied for the MLB lead with 5 Runs Saved at shortstop and is now 5th among shortstops with 6 Runs Saved this season. He had played a stellar second base last season and had no problem in a different spot. When López was in the minor leagues, he played shortstop, second base and the outfield about equally, so he’s used to moving.

    Our Data Scouts track “Good Fielding Plays” which are the kind of plays you’d see on a highlight reel but also little things like keeping a ball on the infield to prevent baserunner advancement. López has 9 Good Fielding Plays in 59 games at shortstop. Edwards had only 1 in 41 games prior to the switch.

    For his part, Edwards had 3 Runs Saved at second base in July and he’s 4th among second basemen with 6 Runs Saved after tallying -3 at shortstop. The move worked for him too.

    July was a good example of that. The Marlins ranked 5th in MLB in how often they turned a grounder or bunt into an out (76.4% of the time). The team allowed an MLB low 73 runs in 25 games for the month. No other team allowed fewer than 80.

    —

    Torrens was elevated to the regular starting role when Francisco Alvarez was demoted and recently returned to backup duties when Alvarez returned.

    Undaunted by that, he had a terrific defensive month, with his most notable accomplishment being catching 6 of 9 would-be basestealers. Torrens has perfected making throws to the first base side of second base so that the shortstop can reach to catch the throw and tag the runner at the same time (here’s an example).

    Torrens finished July with 5 Runs Saved, most among catchers despite finishing tied for 19th in innings caught.

    Torrens caught 46% of runners trying to steal last season and is at 44% in 2025. The MLB rate specific to catchers is 19%.

    —

    Honorable mention to a pair of players who got dealt at the trade deadline. Harrison Bader, who led left fielders with 5 Runs Saved in July, heads from the Twins to the Phillies, who rank 28th in Runs Saved this season. Bader could play any outfield spot for them and be respectable.

    Ke’Bryan Hayes co-led all third basemen in July with 5 Runs Saved and is the runaway leader at the position for the season with 16. He’ll be well received by the Reds, who haven’t gotten positive Runs Saved at that position since the 2017 season.

    Defensive Players of the Month

    April – Harrison Bader and Pete Crow-Armstrong

    May – Adolis García, Taylor Walls, Pedro Pages

    June – Julio Rodriguez, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mookie Betts

    July – Adolis García, Otto López, Luis Torrens

  • Appreciating Steven Kwan’s Defense, Wherever He Ends Up

    Appreciating Steven Kwan’s Defense, Wherever He Ends Up

    Photo: Keith Gillett/Icon Presswire

    Whatever team Steven Kwan plays for on August 1, this much is true: Kwan is a terrific defensive left fielder.

    Kwan leads all left fielders with 13 Defensive Runs Saved this season. The next-closest player has 8. He’s probably going to lead the position in Runs Saved for the third time in his four MLB seasons. The year he didn’t lead was 2024 when he finished third.

    Most Defensive Runs Saved – LF in 2025

    Name Team Runs Saved
    Steven Kwan Guardians 13
    Harrison Bader Twins 8
    Wyatt Langford Rangers 8
    Ian Happ Cubs 7
    Tommy Pham Pirates 7

    Over the last four seasons, Kwan has 59 Runs Saved. The next-closest player is Ian Happ with 31. The only position with a bigger gap between No. 1 and No. 2 is third base where Ke’Bryan Hayes has a 30-run edge over Ryan McMahon. And though Kwan has played the second-most innings of anyone there, he crushes others who play the position often.

    Most Innings Played – LF – Last 4 Seasons

    Player Innings (DRS)
    Ian Happ 4,648 (31)
    Steven Kwan 4,224 (59)
    Randy Arozarena 4,211 (-10)
    Andrew Benintendi 3,677 (-20
    Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 3,554 (12)
    Jurickson Profar 3,447 (-25)

    Kwan has good range numbers this season, though they’re not the best at the position. Where he’s differentiated himself from others is in his throws. He leads left fielders with 7 assists without the help of a cutoff man (among his 9 assists overall). Those impact both his outfield arm stats and what we refer to as his “Good Fielding Play Runs Saved.”

    Additionally, Kwan has been credited for 5 instances in which he held a batter to a single by getting to a ball quickly or playing a ball off the wall well. As was said on a Guardians broadcast- he plays the left field wall “like he built it.” That play is something our Data Scouts do via video review and is a component of his Runs Saved. He’s tied for the MLB lead with Jarren Duran for such plays.   

    We should point out too that Kwan doesn’t have the strongest arm among left fielders. He averages 87 MPH on the top 10% of his throws, which is right around average at the position.  

    But he knows what he’s doing out there, as evidenced by the play above and these too.

     

    And this

    As such, Kwan has 8 Runs Saved from the combination of outfield throws and all of his Good Fielding Plays. Duran ranks second with 4 Runs Saved. The players ahead of Kwan in Range Runs Saved, Wyatt Langford, Harrison Bader, and Isaac Collins, have -1, 1, and -2 Runs Saved for things outside of their range, respectively.

    The Guardians have maximized the value they’ve gotten from Kwan in the nearly four seasons he’s been with the team. His 16 WAR is higher than all but one player taken in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft (in which Kwan went in the 5th round). The only player to top him from that group is another great defender, Nico Hoerner (just shy of 20 WAR). 

    There’s a lot to like about Kwan beyond his glove given that he usually hits for a high average, rarely strikes out, and can steal a base. The defense is one component in what is a pretty complete player.

    Kwan has reportedly been coveted by teams like the Dodgers and Blue Jays. With the Dodgers, he’d be filling a defensive need. The team has gotten a combined -7 Runs Saved from its left fielders. With the Blue Jays, it would be a case of the rich getting richer (they already have one of the top center fielders in Myles Straw). 

    Whoever he’s playing for, we suspect they’re going to be pretty happy with what they got.