MLB: The Five Best Arms in the Outfield

The five best arms in the outfield for 2016 in the MLB. Some new emerging names, and some of your usual suspects.

With a fresh new season of baseball upon us, it’s time we take a look at some of the premier arms in the outfield. Some say the home run ball is the most exciting play in the game- I beg to differ.

There are very few things in the sport that top an outfielder making a perfect throw from the warning track to nab someone trying to score a run. Or a deep fly to right field, and a hopeless baserunner thinks he can get to third from second only to realize that the baseball was shot out of a cannon, and into the third baseman’s glove.

Narrowing the field down to five was not an easy task. The final decision on who made the list and who didn’t were based on three factors: FanGraphs‘ stat Outfield Arm Runs (ARM), consistency, and the good old fashion “eye test.” The ARM value is the amount of runs above average an outfielder saves with their arm by preventing runners from advancing.

Many players were deserving of these top 5 spots, but only the ones with the best arms survived. Without further ado, the five best arms in the outfield.

Next: The Forgotten Man in Seattle

5. Leonys Martin

ARM: Over the last three seasons, Martin has led the league in ARM value at a staggering 29.4. The next closest value was 7.2 points behind him. Last season was a struggle for Martin, but a lot of that had to do with a nagging wrist injury.

Consistency: From 2013-2014 Martins’ arm was at an elite level by a large margin. While 2015 was a down, injury plagued season for him, he is right back on track this year with his new ball club (Seattle Mariners). Martin is back into the top ten in ARM.

Eye Test: When you watch the tape on Martin, you ask yourself how in the world does he deliver a baseball so strong and so accurately to every base. He passes the eye test with flying colors- If you don’t believe me, here’s six minutes of Martin ‘mow downs’.

Next: The Cubbies New Toy

4. Jason Heyward

ARM: In each of the last three seasons the “J- Hey Kid” has seen his ARM value climb drastically. He finished seventh in the saber-metric stat, and if he continues to grow at the pace that he’s currently at, he could be at the top of the list at the end of this year.

Consistency: Heyward has had an incredible arm since he’s entered the league. Things are finally starting to come together for his fielding arm, and he’s show that finishing in the top twelve in ARM value two years in a row.

Heyward makes this list partially on what he can do, and not what he as done. Many among the league believe he hasn’t reached full potential yet, and it shows with his ARM value trending upward.

Eye Test: There’s not much to critique on Heywards arm. His catch and delivery is incredibly smooth, and he gets the results. It can’t hurt to be able to fire a 95 mph fastball from right field to home plate either. Assuming Heyward hasn’t reached full potential, except him to climb this list by the end of the season.

Next: Kevin K

2. Adam Jones

ARM: Jones led all of baseball last season with 9.5 runs saved above the average. Over the past few years the young guns like Leonys Martin, Jason Heyward, and Kevin Kiermaier, have all been steadily climbing the ranks of ARM value, but none have been able to do what Adam Jones has done.

Consistency: Aside from the high ARM score in 2015, Jones has been a model of consistency with the cannon he possesses. Since 2013 only Leonys Martin has a higher ARM value than Jones. Going back to 2011, only one player tops Jones in this category. He’s been saving runs because of his arm since some of these guys on this slideshow were in diapers. Consistency is why Jones is near the top of the list.

Eye Test: Jones receives an exemption on the eye test. No one in the MLB makes a throw from the warning track look as easy, and effortless as Adam Jones does. Jones always has a shot to throw a runner out from any area on the food, and boy is it fun to watch.

Next: The Cuban Defector

1. Yoenis Cespedes

ARM: Yoenis Cespedes shines in every category that we have, and he’s tallied a super impressive ARM value. Cespedes finished third with 7.5 runs saved above the average in 2015. The only players who finished with a higher ARM value was the aforementioned Adam Jones, and J.D Martinez.

Consistency: Ever since coming over from Cuba a few years ago Cespedes was known for his power bat, but his plus arm may have gotten overlooked when he was being scouted. Since 2013, Jones and Leonys Martin are the only two players to score higher on the ARM value than Yoenis. If Cespedes doesn’t finish first in ARM, or consistency than how does he take home the number one ranking you might ask? The eye test.

Next: Potential destinations for expansion

Eye test: This is where Yoenis Cespedes separates himself from the pack. He has high enough scores in the first two categories to keep him in the top five. The eye test shuts this entire slideshow down. There are hours of footage of bombs that Cespedes delivers from left field, and I urge you to check them out, but here are a few throws over a two week span that Yoenis makes that some guys never do in their entire careers.