Red Sox Rankings: Top 5 Defensive Right Fielders in the MLB
We can’t discuss the top five defensive right fielders in Major League Baseball without mentioning a certain Boston Red Sox star.
When you look at the best right fielders, the thing that usually comes to mind is who hits for the best average, who hits the most home runs and who drives in the most RBI’s. What usually does not come to mind is who the best defenders are.
Hitting and driving in runs is equally as important as preventing runs. Defense has become an overlooked aspect in every sport these days. The NBA defense is basically non-existent and in the NFL the best offense usually comes out on top. While defense has become over-looked, it is not something that can be completely ignored.
The World Series Champions from last year boasted one of the best defensive lineups in all of baseball last year. While defense is not going to be the determining factor for wins and losses like in football and basketball, it is definitely something for coaches to constantly keep an eye on.
These five right fielders do it better than anyone else at their position, and lucky for us in Red Sox Nation, we just so happen to have one of the best in all of baseball. Here are the Top 5 Defensive Right Fielders in MLB.
5. Jay Bruce – New York Mets and Cleveland Indians
Even though Jay Bruce has switched teams, it has not stopped him from producing on a daily basis. Bruce was traded from the New York Mets to the Cleveland Indians on August 10.
Bruce has been consistently one of the best defensive right fielders in MLB for most of his career. He has consistently always been near the top in putouts, with already 207 this year. He was fourth in assists last year with 10 and fourth in double plays turned as a right fielder with 4.
Let’s just say that if you are looking to advance a runner into scoring position, or you are trying to put another run on the board, you better not try and get one on Bruce. Odds are that you are going to regret that move when you get your team an out that they do not need, or if it is an inning ender.
Bruce is also one of the top run preventers for right fielders. He ranks fifth with 2.6 UZR. Run prevention is something that cannot continue to be overlooked in baseball, and Bruce takes his defense with the utmost seriousness and does it better than most of the people at his position.
4. Bryce Harper- Washington Nationals
Bryce Harper came into the league as one of the most touted baseball players ever. He was the first pick in the 2010 MLB draft out of the College of Southern Nevada. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals. When he came out of the draft, he wanted to play his preferred position of catcher. However, to keep his career from being shortened and to get him to develop faster, the Nationals switched him from catcher to the outfield.
Harper has been able to show out on the offensive and defensive ends. He was able to capture the Rookie of the Year award in 2012.
in 2015, he took home the National League Most Valuable Player award as well. While he is mostly known for his swing and batting statistics, do not overlook his defense. In 2017, he is second in assists with 8 and fourth in double plays turned with 2.
Harper is also one of the best at his position in preventing runs, ranking fourth with 3.3 UZR. Sure Harper is one of the best hitters in all of MLB, but do not overlook how good of a defender he is. If you try and test that, he will most definitely make you pay.
3. Kole Calhoun- Los Angeles Angels
Kole Calhoun has had to battle for his starting job for mostly his entire career. He first came up to the majors in 2012 for a very short time with the Angels. It was not until 2015 that we truly got to see what Calhoun was truly made of. He hit a career best of 26 home runs and 83 RBI while also playing stellar defense in right field, finishing the season with a .989 defensive fielding percentage and six defensive runs saved, which allowed him to take home his first Gold Glove award.
While 2016 was a bit of a down year for him, he sure has picked up the slack this year. He is third in all of baseball in putouts with 222, and 2nd in assists with 8.
As an outfielder, one of your jobs is to not only catch the ball to get outs, but also to prevent guys from either moving into scoring position, and even scoring at all. Calhoun, along with the other guys on this list, do it better than most of the players in right field. He ranks sixth with 2.3 UZR
Even though the Angels are not playing at their best recently, watching Mike Trout and Calhoun play is always a privilege, because you know something spectacular could happen while they are out there.
2. Giancarlo Stanton
Giancarlo Stanton is known as one of the most lethal and powerful hitters in all of baseball. Giancarlo is known for his towering home runs that could practically fly to the moon. I mean, he was not the Home Run derby champ for nothing.
One thing that seems common with a lot of great players these days is their defense. It is not very often you see a great catch or throw unless you are watching Sportscenter’s top 10 plays, or Baseball Tonight’s Web Gems.
Defense is something that Stanton does very well. Not only does he have a rocket launcher attached to his arm, but he also makes great plays in the field. He is 2nd in MLB in putouts with 236 and .985 fielding percentage and 4 assists. With a rocket for an arm, Stanton is someone that you better not try to move up on, as he ranks seventh in all of baseball with 2.3 UZR.
So next time you see Giancarlo on the television, pay attention to everything he does, not just the towering home runs. He makes some of the most best throws that you will ever see. If you ever try to sneak one on him, you will dearly pay the price.
1. Mookie Betts- Boston Red Sox
Is there really any argument as to why anyone else should be put in this spot besides Mookie? Last year, he led all right fielders in putouts with 346, was second in assists with 14, led in double plays turned with 4, and also played the most games with 157.
He also led an MVP caliber season at the plate. Last year, he was second in the American League in batting average with .318, 2nd in runs scored with 122 and 2nd in hits with 218. Even though he is having a down year at the plate, he is definitely not having one in the field. He leads all of baseball in putouts with 293 and we still have a month to play!
Whenever you look at the Top-10 plays or are watching the Web Gems, you are bound to see Mookie on there somewhere, whether it’s a long distance throw out, or a crazy catch. Betts has been a common theme while you are watching baseball’s best plays.
If you still don’t believe that Mookie is far and away the best right field defender, here is some more proof. He nearly triples the UZR of the second place right fielder, Aaron Judge. The Yankees rookie outfielder has a 7.6 UZR, while Mookie has 19. 6 UZR!
Next: Could Red Sox trade for Stanton?
There is a reason he is there, and there is a reason that he is at the top of this list as the best defensive right fielder in all of baseball.