Evaluating defense in MLB can be challenging and is definitely much more difficult than, say, offense or pitching.
There isn’t a universal stat that everybody accepts as the best one.
Errors are no longer used to determine if a fielder is good or bad because it leaves so much out of the analysis.
Some people use Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), and others use Outs Above Average (OAA).
MLB defines OAA as “a range-based metric of skill that shows how many outs a player has saved.”
Anything above 0 is better than average, and lower means below-average defensive performance.
The New York Yankees called up Anthony Volpe to take over at shortstop this season.
After a rocky start, he has started to come around and is now a net positive both on offense and defense.
He has a 1 OAA, which may not seem as much but considering some recent Yankee shortstops, it looks like Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Writer Joe Randazzo elaborates.
Anthony Volpe has 1 OAA so far.
If the season ended today, that makes him one of three Yankees who have been a positive defender at shortstop, according to the defensive metric.
Granted, OAA is a newish stat; it’s funny to see how poorly they’ve had it up the middle recently.… pic.twitter.com/mFNs8VzyvH
— Joe Randazzo (@Yankeelibrarian) May 5, 2023
From 1996 to 2014, the Yankees’ shortstop was Derek Jeter, who wasn’t a good fielder despite his reputation.
Then, when he retired, Didi Gregorius took over, and he was also bad with the glove.
Starlin Castro was passable for a bit, but didn’t have the bat to keep the position long-term.
Other have been adequate there, but Volpe seems to be the first one in ages with enough bat and glove to be a difference-maker.
He has been a breath of fresh air for the Yankees.
He might be hitting .221, but has been a solid defender, has contributed a lot on the bases with 10 steals, and even showed some power (three homers) and a very nice 13.3 percent walk rate.
His minor league performance indicates that his offensive numbers will go up eventually.
He is the future for the Yanks.
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