MLB's Best and Worst Defender at Every Position in 2025
Defense will never get the same love that a 500-foot home run or 100 mph fastball does, but it is an integral part of the game, and baseball's elite defensive players provide tremendous value to their team.
A reliable glove can keep a light-hitting player in an everyday role, and a standout defender who also makes an impact at the plate is generally one of the most valuable players on his team's roster.
On the flip side, a terrible defensive player can only do so much to offset those shortcomings with his contributions at the plate, and giving away runs in the field can go a long way toward cancelling out a player's offensive value.
Ahead we've highlighted the best and worst defensive player at each position on the diamond in 2025.
Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), Outs Above Average (OAA) and Fielding Run Value (FRV) are there defensive metrics featured prominently in this article, and they generally paint a more complete picture of a player's defensive impact than simply looking at error total or fielding percentage.
Catcher
1 of 9
Best: Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants
Metrics: 795.0 INN, 14 DRS, 27.3% CS, +18 framing runs
Bailey had a case for being the best defensive catcher in baseball from the moment he made his MLB debut during the first half of the 2023 season, and he took home his first Gold Glove last year. He is baseball's best pitch-framer by a wide margin and his 27.3 percent caught stealing rate is comfortably above the 23.1 percent league average.
Worst: Agustín Ramírez, Miami Marlins
Metrics: 430.2 INN, -11 DRS, 7.6% CS, -2 framing runs
Despite spending just 430.2 innings behind the plate this year, Ramírez leads the majors with 13 passed balls. He has also allowed the fifth-most steals of any catcher, and base runners have been successful on 61-of-66 stolen base attempts. The 23-year-old is ticketed for full-time DH duties in the not-too-distant future.
First Base
2 of 9
Best: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Metrics: 1,124.2 INN, 15 DRS, 7 OAA, 5 FRV, 115 assists
Olson won back-to-back Gold Glove Awards in 2018 and 2019—his first two full seasons in the majors—and he has been widely regarded as one of baseball's top-tier defensive first basemen throughout his career. His 115 assists are tops at the position this season, and his 13 double plays started trail only Pete Alonso (15).
Worst: Michael Toglia, Colorado Rockies
Metrics: 705.0 INN, -3 DRS, -10 OAA, 07 FRV, 46 assists
Toglia ranked second among first basemen with an impressive 10 DRS a year ago, but drew less favorable marks in OAA (-4) and FRV (-3). This season, the metrics have been ugly across the board, and with bottom-of-the-scale athleticism his range is extremely limited.
Second Base
3 of 9
Best: Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
Metrics: 1,042.2 INN, 16 DRS, 12 OAA, 9 FRV, .994 fielding%
Hoerner might be a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop if he didn't share the Cubs middle infield with Dansby Swanson, so instead he is one of baseball's elite defensive second basemen. He leads all second basemen in DRS (16), OAA (12) and FRV (9), and should add a second NL Gold Glove to his mantle this offseason.
Worst: Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays
Metrics: 795.2 INN,-14 DRS, -14 OAA, 10 FRV, .979 fielding%
An offensive-minded second baseman from the jump, Lowe has logged the worst defensive metrics of his career this season. The 31-year-old ranks last at the position in OAA (-14) and FRV (-10), and that could impact his potential trade market this offseason, as other teams might view him as a DH or consider a shift to first base.
.png?w=256)
Third Base
4 of 9
Best: Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates/Cincinnati Reds
Metrics: 1,020.2 INN, 16 DRS, 17 OAA, 13 FRV, .985 fielding%
Hayes has piled up 87 DRS since his first full season in the big leagues in 2021, which is head and shoulders above Steven Kwan (64) for the most in the majors during that span. His 2023 NL Gold Glove win snapped a streak of 10 straight for Nolan Arenado at the hot corner, and he now stands as the game's elite defensive third baseman.
Worst: Yoán Moncada, Los Angeles Angels
Metrics: 429.0 INN, -11 DRS, -8 OAA, -6 FRV, .944 fielding%
Moncada has been a useful hitter when healthy this season, posting a 112 OPS+ in 202 plate appearances, but most of his offensive value has been undercut by his dreadful defense. Originally signed and developed as a second baseman, he has never provided much in the way of defensive value, even at his peak.
Shortstop
5 of 9
Best: Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Metrics: 984.2 INN, 5 DRS, 21 OAA, 16 FRV, .995 fielding%
Winn has the range and elite throwing arm to be a perennial Gold Glove contender and a cornerstone for the Cardinals in the years to come. The 23-year-old led all shortstops with 14 DRS as a rookie, and this year he is tops at the position in OAA (21) and FRV (16) while carrying a nearly pristine .995 fielding percentage.
Worst: Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays
Metrics: 1,012.2 INN, -11 DRS, -10 OAA, -8 FRV, .976 fielding%
It will be interesting to see how the free-agent market treats Bichette this winter, and whether teams target him as a shortstop or look to seize this opportunity to shift him to a less demanding defensive position. He took a nice step forward with his glove work between 2021 (-16 DRS, -7 OAA) and 2022 (5 DRS, -3 OAA), but he is now in the midst of arguably the worst defensive season of his career.
Left Field
6 of 9
Best: Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers
Metrics: 649.1 INN, 5 DRS, 9 OAA, 6 FRV, 1 assist
A 28-year-old rookie who never ranked among the top 30 prospects in the Brewers farm system, Collins has emerged as a key contributor for the first-place Brewers both offensively and defensively. Steven Kwan remains a top-tier defender, but DRS (17) and OAA (-1) are split on his performance, and he leads all left fielders with eight errors.
Worst: Heliot Ramos, San Francisco Giants
Metrics: 1,075 INN, -9 DRS, -8 OAA, -10 FRV, 3 assists
After posting ugly defensive metrics while splitting his time between center field and left field last year, Ramos has played exclusively at the corner spot this year and the returns have been similar. He is the best homegrown outfielder the Giants have produced in decades, but defense is never going to be a strength of his game.
Center Field
7 of 9
Best: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
Metrics: 1,104.2 INN, 19 DRS, 19 OAA, 20 FRV, 4 assists
PCA might be the front-runner for NL Platinum Glove honors right now as he continues his rise from promising prospect to exciting rookie to face of the franchise level star. He leads the majors in DRS (19) and FRV (20), and he passes the eye test with countless highlight-reel plays.
Worst: Jo Adell, Los Angeles Angels
Metrics: 711.0 INN, -13 DRS, -8 OAA, -7 FRV, 1 assist
With Mike Trout moving off center field and playing exclusively right field and designated hitter this year, Adell became the starting center fielder out of necessity, and the results have not been pretty. Viewed as a potential five-tool center fielder during his days as a prospect, he has bulked up and lost a step or two, and his solid metrics in right field last year (6 DRS) have not carried over to center field.
Right Field
8 of 9
Best: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Metrics: 1,053 INN, 19 DRS, 10 OAA, 11 FRV, 4 assists
Tatis has been an elite defensive right fielder from the moment he moved off shortstop, winning Gold Glove and Platinum Glove in 2023. Injuries slowed him down in more ways than one a year ago, but he is back to full health and likely on his way to another Gold Glove.
Worst: Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies
Metrics: 1,020.1 INN, -13 DRS, -13 OAA, -13 FRV, 3 assists
Castellanos is the poster boy for why errors are a bad gauge of a player's defensive ability, as he has not committed an error this season, but is unquestionably one of the worst defensive players in the game. On any other team, his limited range would relegate him to DH-only duties, but he's at least a better defensive option than Kyle Schwarber on his own roster.
Pitcher
9 of 9
Best: Spencer Schwellenbach
Metrics: 6 DRS, 21 assists, 3 DP started
Schwellenbach has been on the injured list since late June, yet he still ranks near the top of the leaderboard in most defensive counting stats among pitchers. A two-way standout in college, he was Nebraska's starting shortstop and closer during the 2021 season, so his defensive prowess on the mound should come as no surprise. Tip of the cap to Max Fried, who remains elite and should win a fourth career Gold Glove this year.
Worst: Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Metrics: -5 DRS, 5 assists, 0 DP started
In 145 innings of work, Keller has tallied just five assists while fielding his position, which is the second-lowest total among all qualified pitchers behind Luis Castillo (4). His 23 stolen bases allowed are also the second-most, and No. 1 on that list Sandy Alcantara (29) is more a result of his catcher's defensive shortcomings.
.png?w=480)
