Stat of the Week: The Top 10 Defensive Players in Major League Baseball
There’s something exhilarating about ranking baseball’s top defensive talents, especially around this time of year. This past year, we took a deep dive into identifying the top ten defensive players in the sport, sparked by a segment from MLB Network that prompted similar discussions.
Now, I must confess, I’m not typically keen on these rankings because comparing players across different positions—like second basemen, right fielders, and catchers—poses a significant challenge. This is an issue we grapple with every year when voting for the SIS Defensive Player of the Year.
But here’s where it gets interesting: fans seem to enjoy these lists! With the recent signing of Framber Valdez, it appears we won’t see any more major transactions soon, making this the perfect opportunity to set the stage for spring training. So let’s dive into it!
The Elite Defenders
- Ke’Bryan Hayes
- Daulton Varsho
- Patrick Bailey
- Steven Kwan
- Andrés Giménez
Last season, I identified three standout players as ‘elite.’ This year, I've expanded that number to five, which I believe is justified based on their performances. Ke’Bryan Hayes has impressively surged from the third position last year to claim the top spot entering 2026. He led all third basemen with an astounding 19 Defensive Runs Saved during the 2025 season alone, bringing his total to 91 Runs Saved at third base since 2021. For context, Ryan McMahon, who ranks second, only has 60. That's what I call elite performance!
Daulton Varsho slipped one position to second place, mainly because it was hard to justify ranking someone who played just 68 games in the field last season as No. 1. However, he absolutely deserves the No. 2 slot. Since the start of 2023, Varsho has saved 43 runs in center field—the highest at his position—even though he ranks 25th in terms of innings played. He’s reminiscent of Kevin Kiermaier from previous generations.
As for Patrick Bailey, he was our Defensive Player of the Year last season, so he could easily have taken the top spot. However, I wanted this list to reflect more than just one year. That said, there’s no denying he’s by far the best defensive catcher in the league, leading his peers with 52 Runs Saved since 2023, while Alejandro Kirk comes in second with 39.
When discussing positional expertise, we cannot overlook Steven Kwan, who I’ve elevated three spots from last year. He led left fielders in Runs Saved for the third time in four seasons, demonstrating excellent range and impressive throwing statistics (10 assists without the aid of a cutoff man, matching his total from the combined years of 2023 and 2024).
Andrés Giménez faced some injury challenges last season, yet similar to Varsho, his skills are too exceptional to ignore. As a second baseman with the ability to play shortstop, he boasts a remarkable 51 Runs Saved over the last three seasons—far surpassing the competition, with Brice Turang following at 41.
Next Tier of Talent
- Matt Olson
- Ceddanne Rafaela
- Pete Crow-Armstrong
These three players all have the potential to break into the top five. Some might question why I have center fielders ranked lower than first basemen and left fielders, and I welcome that debate!
Let’s talk about Matt Olson, the embodiment of consistency in defense. Over the last eight seasons, he has consistently ranked among the top three in Runs Saved at first base, leading the position for the last two years, culminating in a career-best 17 Runs Saved in 2025.
Next, we have Ceddanne Rafaela, who topped center fielders in Runs Saved last season, closely followed by Pete Crow-Armstrong in second place. Both are proficient in catching and throwing, with minimal distinction between them. While PCA often garners more recognition for his flashy plays, Rafaela actually recorded a greater number of Good Fielding Plays (27 to 23) despite having 200 fewer innings on the field. It’s worth noting that sometimes you need to look beyond just the highlights to appreciate the full picture.
A Close Race for the Final Spots
- Ernie Clement
- Wilyer Abreu
In crafting this year’s list, I began with a narrower selection process compared to last year’s pool of 29 players for 10 spots. I wanted to ensure representation for utility players, given how crucial versatility is in today’s game. Ernie Clement stands out as the quintessential utility player, winning our Fielding Bible Award for his adept multi-position play last season. He saved 11 runs at third base and another 10 at second base—all while using a glove he purchased on eBay. Now that’s impressive!
For the final slot, I settled on Wilyer Abreu, who has accumulated 17 Runs Saved and 15 Runs Saved in right field over the last two seasons with the Red Sox, leading that position during this timeframe.
If I had an 11th spot to fill, Nico Hoerner would have been my pick, so let’s take a moment to acknowledge those who just missed the cut.
Honorable Mentions
Nick Allen, Mookie Betts, Matt Chapman, Denzel Clarke, Nico Hoerner, Brice Turang, Victor Scott, Myles Straw, Fernando Tatis Jr., Taylor Walls, Jacob Young.
What does your ideal Top 10 list look like? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share your opinions with me at mark@sportsinfosolutions.com.
