MLB Power Rankings: The Fastest Player at Every Position
The ball jumps off of the bat, and everyone can see it is headed for a gap by the time they hear the "crack," and the batter instantly bolts off in a rounded path preparing to tap first as he goes for extra bases.
Then in a blur, leather snags the ball out of the air, and the batter stops in his tracks while asking himself the same question everyone who saw the play is asking, "how did the fielder get to that ball?"
Because he's fast, that's why. Just ask our boy Slim Chin and he'll tell you, "Fast don't lie."
The baseball field is no exception. Speed effects a game in countless ways. It takes away hits on defense, and adds them on offense. It can turn a walk into a double, and a pick-off into an error. It can make a single with a man on first into an RBI single.
Here are the players with the most wheels at each position.
*Note: Anytime an infield hit is mentioned, I used baseball-reference.com's split stats where they chart hits and used the "to infield" numbers.
Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox
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When pitchers effect a game with speed it is with what their arm can generate and not their legs.
Occasionally pitchers are called upon for pitch running duties. And the Red Sox may be more inclined than others to call on a pitcher than most teams, because Clay Buchholz is a burner.
Buchholz is a Texas high school sprint champion. There were also rumors that he beat former teammate and fellow speedster, Jacoby Ellsbury, in a race, but apparently the Red Sox were against that ever happening or at least being known that it happened.
Buchholz was quoted by Gordon Eddes in the Boston Globe:
“I’ve already been told that I’ll be fined if I race against Ellsbury.”
Catcher: Russell Martin, New York Yankees
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I don't know about you, but when I think about speed in professional sports my mind instantly drifts to catchers...and then I laugh.
Catchers are not known for their wheels, and for good reason. I wouldn't be able to stand, let alone run, after a game of squatting.
A few catchers break the stereotype, and Russell Martin is at the head of a small pack of fleet-footed backstops.
Martin is an excellent all around athlete. He is also excellent on the base paths. Last year he only had six steals, but he was also only caught stealing twice. It was the first year of his career where he didn't hit double digits in steals.
In 2007, he had a career high 21 stolen bases.
First Base: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
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We're just going to go ahead and get all of the slow positions out of the way first. Teams find first basemen that don't have to run, because they are trotting after they hit the ball out of the park.
Still, some of the first base mashers are solid all around athletes, like Albert Pujols. That guy can do anything. Although just like he was last year, Pujols gets beaten out by Joey Votto.
Votto is a quick defensive first baseman, and he led all first baseman with 16 steals in 2010 while being caught only five times.
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Second Base: Eric Young Jr.
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Eric Young Jr. proves that fast is genetic. In a position that is predicated more on quick than on speed Young has both.
In 2010, Young swiped 17 bases, in just 172 at-bats, and he was caught six times.
Young is still trying to become an everyday player, but it is clear that if he gets on base he is capable of doing some damage. He certainly does not need to hit the ball hard either.
Of his 42 hits in 2010, 11 never made it out of the infield.
Third Base: Chone Figgins, Seattle Mariners
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Chone Figgins' switch back to third base made the choice for fastest player at this position a simple one. The hot corner is usually reserved for big hitters with quick reflexes. Figgins is not the normal third baseman.
Figgins is and has been one of the fastest players in the game. He is routinely at or near the top of league leader in steals.
Last year Figgins had 42 steals and was caught 15 times. Figgins also used his speed to collect 38 infield hits in 2010.
Short Stop: Jose Reyes, New York Mets
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You have to be quick to be a shortstop. Lightning fast reaction times are required to supply the range needed for the position.
That doesn't always mean a good top end speed. Unless you are talking about Jose Reyes.
While he may not be quite as fast as he used to be, the dude can still fly.
He led the league in steals three consecutive years starting starting in 2005 topping out with 78 in 2007. He has struggled with injuries since then, but he still managed to post 30 steals in 133 games in 2010.
Left Field: Juan Pierre, Chicago White Sox
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Left field may have been the hardest position to come to a clear winner.
Almost every left fielder can fly. Brett Gardner from the Yankees is a real burner, and I considered him until deciding he is not in the same league as Carl Crawford and Juan Pierre.
If the two were to race, I am guessing that Pierre would get out to the early lead and Crawford would catch up as they went along. In the end, I am giving this extraordinary honor to Pierre since he has more stats to show for his speed.
At the age of 33 you'd expect Pierre to be slowing down, but not this freak of nature. Pierre led all players in steal in 2010 by posting a career best 68.
Also 40 of Pierre's hits in 2010 were designated as going to the infield.
Center Field: Michael Bourn, Houston Astros
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I said left field may have been the toughest call on this list, because center is right there with it.
Rajai Davis, B.J. Upton, Drew Stubbs, Nyjer Morgan, Michael Bourn, Jacoby Ellsbury and Andrew McCutchen would all have to race to sort this one out.
In the end, I have decided to bestow this honor upon Bourn. Not only did he lead all center fielders with 52 steals in 2010, but he once scored from second in a minor league game on a sacrifice fly—now that is wheels.
Most guys couldn't even do that even if they didn't have to touch third.
Right Field: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
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This may have been the easiest choice on the list.
Ichiro is running faster before he finishes his swing than any other right fielder runs at top end.
He uses his weird technique and blazing speed to be the king of the infield hit. 68 of his 208 hits in 2010 were designated as being to the infield.
He swiped 42 bags in 2010 while being caught just nine times. His speed is always on display in his range in the field.
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