The composite metrics are the most comprehensive (and wildly complicated) statistics, so I weighed them more than the rest when making my choices. Major League . However, his dWAR of 1.1 and DRS of six (both fourth place) put him in the company of the top-tier guys. Statistic Description: Fielding Percentage (Putouts + Assists) / (Putouts + Assists + Errors) Note that seasons prior to 1876 are not included in single-season marks, but are included in career marks. The numbers are regressed based on the playing time of each shortstop. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The position numbers go in order, starting with the pitcher as #1, however the shortstop is out of order and is labeled #6 instead of #5 all other positions go naturally in order from pitcher to catcher, around the infield, then into the outfield. "A couple of years ago there was a group of good, young shortstops who emerged as future stars: Derek Jeter, Rey Ordonez, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar . Pinch Runners enter the game to run the bases in place of another player, but this is not really a position more just a role. Data Provided By Statistics That Require the Tracking of Batted Balls Metrics The statistic is premised on the notion that the total number of outs in which a player participates is more relevant in evaluating that player's defensive play than the percentage of . Tulowitzki's RF of 4.89 is third-best among qualifying shortstops. Simmons was just named the Defensive Player of the Month for June by ESPN. If the video above isn't enough the to convince you, check out this barehanded snag. Component metrics are significantly more specific, and so are less telling of a shortstop's overall ability, but they did factor into my decisions somewhat. You can see the maturity. However, Green did, and his 07 performance was in line with the more recent numbers. First, it is somewhat subjective. Athleticism, knowledge of the game, and leadership skills are necessary for shortstops at this level. There is a possibility that Jose Iglesias takes over shortstop duties in the near future, but as of now, it's Drew who qualifies. In an interview with Peter Abraham of telegram.com, Stephen Drew noted that while his game doesn't contain the wow factor that others in his position boast, consistency and efficiency are paramount for him: Some guys can do a lot of fancy stuff. Its important to understand the positional numbers so that a proper scorebook can be kept and players understand the lineup and dugout card. Sign up for my email list youll get my free throwing ebook and updates on new videos and articles like this one. I used three general criteria to rank shortstops, each with its own subset(s): 1. He exceeded his expected errors by 10.98, resulting in a Universal Fielding Percentage Score of .304 for the seasonwell below average: (56.04 - 39) / 56.04 = .304 It's true; his composite stats are currently laughable, so he's obviously not in the top 10. Metrics from the days of yore: Fielding percentage. Teammate and fellow infielder Jose Iglesias can make some superstar plays up the middle, but his move to the hot corner is a testament to Drew's reliability. He's going to make errors, because he's going to get to more balls that most other guys, but he's not booting one every four or five days. Even though Bichette hit 34 home runs and knocked in 133 runs, the Rockies traded him after the season. Make a guess now (Note: Baseball-Reference uses fielding runs below average, which can be drawn from two different sources depending on the year. Sullivan of MLB.com, Texas manager Ron Washington had this to say about Andrus: He has been outstanding. His dWAR is only 0.2, bad enough for 21st, and his DRS is -2 (18th). "On the day before the season started, the manager came into the clubhouse and laid brand-new uniforms on a table. I never change that. Speed is still a quality that coaches will look for. What are the pricing options for Go Big Premium? When Andruw Jones first came to the big leagues (with the Atlanta Braves), he'd make plays in the outfield, and we'd go: "Oh, man, did you see that?" Sunday Notes: Bill Haselman Recalls the Brawl That Almost Broke Cal's Streak, Effectively Wild Episode 2000: We Thought of More Things We Like About Baseball, The Sleeper and the Bust Episode: 1169 Sunday FAAB ft. Michael Govier, Starting Pitchers Arent Leaning On Their Best Pitches, I looked at some notable defensive performances among college third basemen. W. Clayton Kershaw (3-1) L. Tylor Megill (3-1) We've added a page to show the statistical impact of MLB's rule changes for the 2023 season. I kept looking and I didn't find one for me, so I knew I didn't make the team. Michael Young, SS, 2005 Rangers (minus-32). Undoubtedly, voters remembered the spectacular plays, but there was nothing in the numbers that suggested Kemp had above-average range and he was making a large number of miscues at the same time. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Kirby Puckett, CF, 1993 Twins (minus-29 runs), This one seems a little odd considering Puckett had won a Gold Glove the previous season. Fielding percentage: .977 (four-way tie for 11th). Alexei Ramirez can be considered a veteran at this point, but he's still pretty spry. Which is the hardest position? Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. I dont know whether thats the case, though I can say that the year-to-year correlation is weaker for programs outside of D I. Might not be an absolute but they do always seem to be either the catcher or pitcher. Probably because shortstops field more balls, the shortstop ratings youre about to see are somewhat more valid than those I presented for third basemen in May. I dont think scouts generally talk about Beckham as a liability in the fieldjust a guy who cant stick at shortstop. His DRS of five puts him in a tie for fifth among qualifying shortstops. Rules question do runners have to be on base? 5. Castellanos' range factor was 2.10 per nine innings compared to the MLB average of 2.56, but of course he played on a staff that racked up a lot of strikeouts. Shortstops with career .271/.340/.493 lines don't grow on trees, and we're projecting him to be better than that this year. In fastpitch and slowpitch, they are used in the scorebook to tell positions apart. He's clearly a gifted athlete and is a treat to watch, so I'd say the future is brighthe just needs to polish up the dull spots. In 2009 while playing for an awful Nationals team that lost 103 games, Dunn started 83 games in the outfield and 66 at first base. What is a decent fielding percentage for a shortstop? That can be attributed to a good amount of added strength, using his body more efficiently in the box and employing a more direct bat path consistently. Its just like a refresher course for me. All rights reserved. year and team summary of data Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. And because I'm a traditionalist, good old fielding percentage has its time of day here and was considered as much as the component metrics. From the minute I saw him, he's been making plays like that. But yes, they're essentially the same player. Originally, in the early years of baseball, the shortstop was the fourth outfielder. What position is right for a young fastpitch player? Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 12:21AM. 24-year Mookie Betts is playing like an MVP again, Real or Not? The meaning of FIELDING PERCENTAGE is the average (as of a baseball fielder) determined by dividing the number of putouts and assists by the number of chances called also fielding average. Grant Green was the only college shortstop selected in the top 100 picks of this years draft. Catchers have an extremely demanding role on the team both physically and mentally. The longest games in Major League history (both leagues) with no chances offered to a shortstop? Thanks to his performance in the 2008 College World Series, Mendonca may have been the most heralded defensive player available in this years draft. Frankie Crosetti and Honus Wagner are the only two shortstops to ever play a game on Opening Day and not receive a single chance at shortstop. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who were typically poor at batting and were often placed at the bottom of the batting order. Do you have a sports website? Escobar is only 26, meaning his prime will soon be upon us, so it's possible that he'll rise in the rankings in the next several years in a similar way to Andrus. Versions for all ages with a 14-Day Free Trial. Fielding percentage: .977 (five-way tie for 11th). Bortnick was selected by the Rays in the 16th round of this years draft. The corner outfielders, shortstop and second baseman are typically the fastest players on a competitive fastpitch softball team. Fielding percentage: .989 (tied for second). What can help a young softball star reach the next level? Here's the rundown: Simmons is unparalleled here. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. This was very helpful! And I happen to think J.J.s substance is his style. However, its not really the case any more that they have the strongest arm on the entire teamthey mightbut the shortstop and third baseman also have tremendously strong arms. Ramirez's RF of 4.05 is the 15th-highest, showing that he's not quite as nimble as he was in his prime, but he proves to be adept at turning two, as his DPR of 1.6 is the best in the league among shortstops. And Alcides is just a smidgen better. Kozma cracks the top five namely because of his UZR, RF and fielding percentage. Left-handed catchers are seen occasionally in college softball but its rare. Good reflexes and instincts are important, as line drives scream to first base. Could Mike Trout outproduce a tanking team's entire lineup? Its fine to love one position more than the others, but in the competitive world of travel, varsity and collegiate fastpitch, it just may not be realistic that a player can start at that position as they rise. How hard do most fastpitch players need to throw? The big surprise to me in this group is Robbie Shields up at the top. While he occasionally sacrifices accuracy in the name of pizzazz, he's considered by most measures to be one of the most elite shortstops in the game. I dont know if flashy is the word, but he can do things that other people cant do. anything but a shortstop!) Sources and more resources In terms of arm strength, elite middle infield recruits will throw the ball across the diamond anywhere between 85 MPH and 95 MPH.