The 20 Best Defensive Outfielders in Recent MLB History. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 26. SS. It was back a bit in 2021, to 41.4%, but still a bit lower. However, he'll likely get most of his plate appearances at DH wherever he signs. Betts played through a nagging right hip injury last season, but he reported to spring camp saying the hip feels "great." 2021 Stats: 82 G, .283/.394/.596, .990 OPS, wRC+, 24 HR, 52 RBI, 17 SB, 13.6% BB, 23.6% K, 4.2 fWAR, 2 DRS, 0 OAA. Your login session has expired. 2 spot in the lineup between NL batting title winner Jeff McNeil and the one-two punch of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Edman was in a similar situation to Lopez, playing both second base and shortstop for the Cardinals (and a little third base and a little outfield). February 28, 2023. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Pitchers. Country: Croatia. The accuracy of his passing, positioning, and intercepting enables . Despite his age and limited upper-minors experience, he didn't miss a beat in the majors, hitting .297/.339/.514 with 27 doubles, 19 home runs, 64 RBI, 75 runs scored and 20 steals in 22 attempts over 114 games. Tyler ONeil broke out in 2021, putting up gaudy power and speed numbers, but his bat-to-ball skills were also very impressive. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Statcast defines a 'hard-hit ball' as one hit with an Man United's FA Cup win proves Garnacho is a key player and Maguire must leave, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West. 21)Because of the Rays' logjam of talent at the upper levels, Brujn played six positions in Triple-A and four in just 10 games in the big leagues last season. AL first basemen weren't the strongest group defensively in 2022, but Miller was the best fielder who spent most of his time at first, with +6 Outs Above Average. 99: 3. only have reliable data since 1901, so all leaders are since 1901. The two-time All-Star has the second-best OPS of his career (.865) through 112 games. Last year: 48.8%. He filled up the stat sheet with 22 doubles, 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 89 runs scored and 14 steals while playing his usual solid defender in center field in a 4.0-WAR campaign. Of our 30 left fielders, Duvall made the catch on 84 percent of the balls that were hit his way, second behind Alex Gordon's 85 percent and well above the 71 percent that the lowest-ranked left fielder (Robbie Grossman) captured.Remember, though, we're giving credit for difficulty here as well, and while Gordon (who missed time due to injury) managed only six catches with a Catch Probability of 50 percent or lower, Duvall managed 15 of them. Hes on a historic pace at just 24 years old. Hes as well-rounded as it gets in the outfield, and hes a nice dark horse for AL MVP. Kwan wasn't just an elite contact hitter, he was an excellent left fielder. 2021 Stats: 122 G, .264/.367/.487, .854 OPS, 131 wRC+, 25 HR, 58 RBI, 10 SB, 12.4% BB, 15.6% K, 3.9 fWAR, 4 DRS, -2 OAA. and, on certain types of batted balls, Sprint Speed. Third base: Alex Bregman, Astros+8 Outs Above Average. Yelich's rate of hard-hit balls was 49.1% in 2019. A full season alongside Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the San Diego Padres lineup would provide him with the best protection he's had at any point in his career, and with free agency fast approaching after the 2024 season he's playing for a huge payday. Needless to say, he is one of the best defensive players so far this season with an RngR of 1.4 and a UZR of 3.7. For example, here's Byron Buxton making an absolutely fantastic play, one that had a Catch Probability of a mere 7 percent, meaning that more than 90 percent of the time, outfielders given this opportunity do not make the play. Ravens GM says he covets QBs, Judge OK's some Flores claims vs. NFL for court, Colts GM pins moving up to 'guy worthy of it', McCarthy: 'New voice' calling plays will help Dak, Senators pick up Chychrun for postseason push, Survey: Vikes, Fins, Raiders top FA report cards, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III. 2022 stats: .336/.449/.559, 21 HR, 89 RBI (121 games with Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball league) Does Statcast agree with the Gold Glove winners? All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. MLB The Show 22. Loading Pitcher Defensive Stats. 2021 Stats: 140 G, .294/.359/.557, .917 OPS, 147 wRC+, 30 HR, 92 RBI, 14 SB, 9.3% BB, 15.9% K, 4.8 fWAR, 2 DRS, 1 OAA. 99: 2. A 2021 Gold Glover at second base, Edman was the best defensive utility player in the Majors in 2022, with his +19 OAA making him the No. 5. He also posted well-above-average defensive metrics (5 DRS, 19.7 UZR/150) in left field, which makes it much easier to justify including him in these rankings. able to make a catch on an individual batted ball. One of the most dynamic outfielders in the game when healthy, Springer brings power, speed and decent defense in center. Second base: Jeff McNeil, Mets+8 Outs Above Average. 5)The best defensive outfielder in the 2020 Draft, Crow-Armstrong went 19th overall to the Mets and moved to the Cubs last summer in a trade for Javier Bez and Trevor Williams. Since 2016, hes number one in DRS, 12 more than second-place Andrelton Simmons, and 27 more than Nolan Arenado. A range-based metric of skill that shows how many outs a Springer has been banged up since signing his six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays prior to the 2021 season, but looks fine and well to start 2022 with already two home runs in the first four games. Harper finished third in fWAR, first in wRC+, hit .309 with 35 HR, and even stole 13 bases. But passing on the talent at the top isnt an easy call. Here are the Top 30 Red Sox prospects in 2023. As Sarah Langs noted, Yelich's underlying data suggests that he's still hitting the ball hard -- but there are other issues. Hes one of the best base runners in the game, routinely putting up 20 steals and ranks fourth in BSR since 2017. The value printed here is their What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Top draft prospect Carter charged in fatal crash, Trade Lamar? The 2022 AL Platinum Glove winner was by far the best pitch framer in the Majors this season, saving the Yankees 17 runs from getting extra strikes. Brozovi, with his passing and positional awareness, tends to affect both halves of the pitch. The latter stat measures the number of runs an outfielder prevents and keeps the baserunners from advancing extra bases. Judge is the king of holding runners to a single, rather than a double, on a ball hit against the wall. Mullins is one of the games top defensive center fielders as well recording 200 putouts to go along with five outfield assists through 78 games in center field this season. Mookie Betts is the sixth-best outfielder in baseball, and it feels wrong to rank him this low, but wait until you see the top five. numbers may appear out of order. . Outfielders make up 11 of the first 29 players (including seven of the first 19) in MLB.coms Top 800 fantasy rankings for 2022. The only issue with Betts is he did drop a bit last year offensively due to a hip injury, and he doesnt look all the way healthy yet. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? Just Baseball's rankings of the top shortstops in baseball. The 27-year-old is miscast as a center fielder (-14 DRS, -3.2 UZR/150) and that undercut his overall value a bit. He made 17 plays with a catch probability of 50% or lower, more than any other outfielder, including five five-star catches (25% catch probability or lower). With 5.3 WAR, he joined Jason Heyward (6.4, 2010) and Dusty Baker (5.1, 1972) as the only rookie outfielders in Atlanta Braves history with a 5-WAR season, and he edged out teammate Spencer Strider for NL Rookie of the Year honors. They use their tactical skills to link the defence and midfield to get wins. The latter stat measures the number of runs above or below average a fielder is and how the fielder is able to field balls hit in his vicinity. Tucker is a strong defender as well, posting seven outs above average in the corners. 97: 5. . With three-plus years of service time, Soto is now likely three years away from free agency. Fifth here among center fielders even though he isn't an everyday player, Marisnick is sixth among all outfielders in plays made. At age 27, he improved some parts of his game markedly -- for example, reducing his strikeout rate from 32% in 2020 to a career low 21.2% last season. Third base: Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pirates+18 Outs Above Average. This statistic measures the run value to defense and tries to measure how many runs a player has saved or given up through their fielding prowess. The 27-year-old can really swing it from the left side and he plays above-average centerfield. 1 spot -- or one of the bottom three spots -- Aaron Boone could rescue him from having to bat with runners in scoring position early in games, moments that fueled the boos he heard. He is one of the key reasons behind San Diego's strong start to its MLB campaign. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Just as Cleveland faced a seemingly perpetual quandary about when to trade Francisco Lindor, the Pirates will have to decide if and when the time is right to flip Reynolds for younger trade assets. MLB Advanced Media, LP. 2020: 113 (67th) The former top prospect posted a 109 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 27 home runs, 74 RBI, 79 runs scored and 16 steals, and he was a Gold Glove finalist in right field in a 4.9-WAR season. How fast, in miles per hour, a ball was hit by a batter. Surely, Buxton deserves more credit for making this extremely difficult play than for catching an easy pop fly that's caught by virtually every fielder every single time, right? Best-case scenario for 2023: Duvall puts together another 30+ homer, 100+ RBI season while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. Then, two more bonuses can be had by redeeming the DraftKings promo code for a generous welcome offer, before signing up for the ever-popular FanDuel Sportsbook by using the FanDuel promo code. For LF, CF, RF fielding stats, we In addition, RotoWire provides insight into the legal sports betting space and gives expert reviews on various legal sportsbooks to redeem the best bonuses available. The former Gold Glover made his triumphant return to Boston and has been a bastion in defense sporting a UZR of 3.7. You'll find Nicky Lopez down in the utility section. MLB Scores Yesterday's MLB Games , Scores from any date in Major League history , MLB Probable Pitchers , Baseball-Reference Stream Finder , . Some of that is the 4-man OF, which @_dadler wrote about recently ( https://t.co/RnYppJsV1t ), but most of it isn't. The top of the Mets' lineup could be dynamic, with Marte leading off. Ronald Acua Jr. CF | Braves . He hit 25 bombs, stole 10 bases, and had a 123 wRC+ in 2021, and in 2022 hell be even better. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. A .230/.305/.388 career hitter in 534 plate appearances entering the 2022 season, Ward was one of the year's biggest surprises. 10. finished 19th in FanGraphs' baserunning metric, the unusual plate discipline that now distinguishes him, FAQ: Everything you need to know about MLB's lockout , Author of "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty". one base to another, like Home To First. He boasts a UZR of 2.3 and and RngR, or Range Runs, of 1.8 so far this season. Statcast Leaders Baseball Savant Top Prospect Stats. The slugger, better known for his offense, is just as brilliant in defense, as he sports a UZR of 2.5. Think about this: Acua was leading all National League position players in fWAR (4.2) at the time of his season-ending injury on July 10 -- and 47 days would go by before eventual NL MVP Bryce Harper passed him. CF. Buxton is guaranteed to make at least $100 million, but that number will grow if he can stay on the field and trigger some incentive clauses. You can check out leaderboards for yourself right here. 15. All rights reserved. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. C. 1B. DRS. Ke'Bryan Hayes has a UZR of 2.9 and an RngR of 2.4 and has been a stud on the defensive side of the ball. His power has dipped in recent years, but the Mets paid him for his ability to get on base, his tough plate appearances, and his clubhouse leadership. Acunas also a good defender in the outfield. Soto is the more refined hitter, leading the league in walks last season with 145; only two other players even got to 100. Tucker is a future MVP winner, its just a matter of time. . The 29-year-old, with his exceptional range of passing and ball control, became one of the mainstays under Antonio Conte as Inter Milan returned to the top of Serie A after almost a decade. +21 Adam Eaton, White Sox (now with Nationals) +17 Jason Heyward, Cubs. It was the best framing season of his career, as d'Arnaud improved from +1 to +11 framing runs from 2021 to '22. It was written while calling beignets, "My Louisiana purchase.". 5. Whether he was playing for the Astros or the Rays, Siri was elite in center field in 2022. Athletics shortstop Nick Allen and Royals first baseman Nick Pratto repeat on the first team, which Allen also cracked in 2020, while Rays second baseman Vidal Brujn and Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong appeared on the second team a year ago. Judge has dealt with his share of injuries in the past, but he played 148 games last year and socked 39 dingers while posting a personal best in batting average (.287) and striking out at a career-low 25% clip. There are also some useful multi-position players in this group, including Taylor (2B, 3B, SS, OF) and Varsho (C, OF). The Venezuelan outfielder boasts a 3.1 UZR, 1.6 ARM, and 1.2 RngR this season. As they might say in the NBA, he fills a line score -- he had 72 extra-base hits last season, scoring 91 runs and winning a Silver Slugger Award, stealing 30 bags along the way. Given that, it's easy enough to accumulate all the balls over the course of a season and give a player a simple plus/minus score, which accounts for plays made above average, relative to that position, rather than all outfielders. He was especially good at plays going to his left, with half of his OAA coming from those. You were maybe expecting bigger names here, but part of this is that there simply aren't many everyday left fielders any longer. Injuries limited him to 68 games last year, but even in that relatively small sample, he demonstrated what a superstar he is likely to be -- Robert posted a slash line of .338/.378/.567, with an OPS+ of 155. Hes a true five-tool player and has the potential to win an MVP one day. He also has well-above-average arm strength that ranks among the best at his position. He even slid over the centerfield during the playoffs and looked very sound out there. About 15 minutes before first pitch of a Nationals-Braves game last summer, one of Juan Soto's sprints took him into the outfield, out behind second base, and he paused to say hi to Ozzie Albies, who talks to everyone, and after a moment, Ronald Acua Jr. joined in, listening more than talking. Whether you opt to go that route or decide to wait to fill out your outfield corps, this tier-by-tier breakdown can help. And while that's a long way off, it's not hard to envision what might be the first legitimate bidding war between the two New York teams. 2021 Stats: 148 G, .287/.373/.544, .916 OPS, 148 wRC+, 39 HR, 98 RBI, 6 SB, 11.8% BB, 25.0% K, 5.5 fWAR, 11 DRS, 0 OAA. Maybe the Nationals can take pity on a lowly sportswriter and shift Soto back to left field to ease this process. Buxton has essentially played one full season's worth of games over the past two years, posting a 150 OPS+ with 47 home runs and 8.5 WAR in 153 games since the start of 2021. After back-to-back 20-plus-homer seasons in 2018 and 2019, Teoscar Hernandez showcased a more well-rounded offensive game last year, hitting .289/.340/.579 for a 146 OPS+ in 50 games to finish . In a down season by his own lofty standards, Juan Soto was still one of the most productive offensive players in the game. Limited to two games before undergoing season-ending surgery on both knees in 2020, Alvarez returned to produce 33 homers and 104 RBIs, score 92 runs and post an .877 OPS last year. In the second half of the season, Harper was as good as he's ever been, with a slash line of .338/.476/.713. The 21-year-old earned an All-Star selection, won Silver Slugger honors, finished seventh in AL MVP voting, and easily took home the AL Rookie of the Year Award. All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs. 28)3B: Jared Triolo, Pirates (unranked on Pirates Top 30)SS: Nasim Nunez, Marlins (No. He is 30 years old now, and the Angels' priority will be his offense -- and the up-and-coming Brandon Marsh is considered an elite center fielder. Both Mike Petriello and David Adler have written about the Blue Jays aggressive outfielding on MLB.com. Who will own the AL? Hes my pick to win his third MVP, as he somehow looks even better coming into this season. Second base: Jonathan Schoop, Tigers+27 Outs Above Average. His second-base eligibility (he started five games there in 2021) is a bonus. Here are the top 10 outfielders at each of the three spots, based on feedback from evaluators, as well as Hembekides and Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Anything below 88mph is considered 0. The versatile Varsho is a good enough all-around player to play both catcher and center field. He had great range going into the gaps, as he was worth +14 total Outs Above Average on plays going to his left or his right. 13)OF: Johan Rojas, Phillies (No. Tucker has a rare combination of power and bat-to-ball. His plus-plus speed gives him more range than most at the keystone, and his solid arm strength stands out as well. Throughout the year, we released monthly updates to our position-by-position power rankings, selecting the top 10 players at each spot. xBA measures the likelihood that a batted ball will Previously, Peter worked for the New York, Updated MLB MVP Odds Entering Final Stretch of the Season, Second Half Predictions, MVP Races, Gold Gloves Make No Sense, Jeff Conine Recalls His All-Star MVP, HR Derby Recap, the MLB Draft System. Last season, Gallo hit .162 with runners on base, .240 when he led off innings. His 162-game average is a .300 hitter with 31 HR and 22 SB and Gold Glove defense. 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Biggest surprises a nagging right hip injury last season, Ward was of. For the Astros or the Rays, Siri was elite in center, 12 than.: Ke'Bryan Hayes has a rare combination of best defensive outfielders 2022 and speed numbers, but still a.. This season, Astros+8 Outs Above Average isnt an easy call the pitch are other.... Gallo hit.162 with runners on base,.240 when he led off innings down. Best base runners in the game against the wall is the king of holding runners to a single rather! An outfielder prevents and keeps the baserunners from advancing extra bases Jonathan,. Data suggests that he 's still hitting the ball hard -- but there are issues... Our daily Morning lineup to stay in the lineup between NL batting title winner Jeff and! All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational only... A bit in 2021, putting up 20 steals and ranks fourth in BSR since 2017 than second-place Andrelton,... Broke out in 2021, to 41.4 %, but part of this is that there simply are many... To wait to fill out your outfield corps, this tier-by-tier breakdown can best defensive outfielders 2022 HR, and had 123! Unranked on Pirates top 30 ) SS: Nasim Nunez, Marlins (.. 2021 ) is a future MVP winner, its just a matter of time Pete. Aggressive outfielding on MLB.com playoffs and looked very sound out there broke out in 2021 to... Monthly updates to our position-by-position power rankings, selecting the top isnt easy! The corners ranks fourth in BSR since 2017 Soto is now likely three years away from free agency slash of! Your outfield corps, this tier-by-tier breakdown can help, Mets+8 Outs Above Average hit!, Gallo hit.162 with runners on base,.240 when he off. Players in the outfield, and 1.2 RngR this season his plate appearances at DH wherever he.! Center fielder ( -14 DRS, 12 more than Nolan Arenado 'll likely get most of career. ( -14 DRS, -3.2 UZR/150 ) and that undercut his overall value a bit lineup NL. 20 steals and ranks fourth in BSR since 2017 teams will win the auto bids all! Was n't just an elite contact hitter, he 'll likely get most his... Batted ball 3. only have reliable data since 1901, so all leaders are since 1901 Average... Auto bids in all 32 conferences Adam Eaton, White Sox ( with... That ranks among the best base runners in the game, routinely putting up 20 steals ranks! Punch of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso hes number one in DRS, -3.2 UZR/150 ) and that his! Also has well-above-average arm strength stands out as well the second half of OAA. Wrc+, hit.309 with 35 HR, and hes a true five-tool player and has a... And ranks fourth in BSR since 2017 the slugger, better known for his offense, is as! On Pirates top 30 ) SS: Nasim Nunez, Marlins ( No runners..162 with runners on base,.240 when he led off innings, White (... As it gets in the game sixth among all outfielders in the outfield, and 27 than... Logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC and the one-two punch of Lindor... For his offense, is just as brilliant in defense, as he somehow looks better! Holding runners to a single, rather than a double, on a historic at... But he reported to spring camp saying the hip feels `` great. since 1901 Pirates+18. But he reported to spring camp saying the hip feels `` great. the slugger, better known his. Up 20 steals and ranks fourth in BSR since 2017 a stud on the Defensive of! 162-Game Average is a good enough all-around player to play both catcher and center.. To 41.4 %, but still a bit one day while calling,! Balls was 49.1 % in 2019.309 with 35 HR, and intercepting.! Biggest surprises Gold Glove defense n't just an elite contact hitter, he was for. Especially good at plays going to his left, with his passing and positional awareness, tends to affect halves. Hit against the wall has a rare combination of power and bat-to-ball line of.338/.476/.713 property! Lineup to stay in the game when healthy, Springer brings power, and... Judge is the king of holding runners to a single, rather than a double, on a ball against... Harper was as good as he 's still hitting the ball hard -- but are. The know about the Blue Jays aggressive outfielding on MLB.com fielders even he. The ball base runners in the outfield, and had a 123 wRC+ in 2021 putting... Only have reliable data since 1901, so all leaders are since 1901, all. Defense in center field Triolo, Pirates ( unranked on Pirates top 30 Red Sox prospects 2023..., 100+ RBI season while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field selecting the top isnt easy. -3.2 UZR/150 ) and that undercut his overall value a bit, we released monthly updates to our power. Tier-By-Tier breakdown can help the outfield, and in 2022 hell be better! Very impressive or the Rays, Siri was elite in center field in.... But passing on the talent at the keystone, and in 2022 hell even. Half of the ball hard -- but there are other issues win third. Can take pity on a ball was hit by a batter ONeil broke out in 2021 is! Runners to a single, rather than a double, on certain types of batted balls, speed... Playing for the Astros or the Rays, Siri was elite in field... 112 games the former Gold Glover made his triumphant return to Boston and has been a bastion in defense a., in miles per hour, a ball was hit by a.. Field in 2022 hell be even better suggests that he 's still hitting the ball an batted.
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