MLB: Who Is the Fastest Player in Baseball?
By Matt Weyrich
Starling Marte
Starling Marte may not be the Pirates’ leadoff hitter, but he is undoubtedly the best baserunner they have on the team. His 148 steals since the start of the 2013 season rank third in all of baseball.
While he may play left field, that does not make Marte any less of a threat. He is one of five corner outfielders this century (minimum 75 percent of playing time at position) with at least 160 stolen bases. The four players ahead of him have all logged at least 1,333 games played during that time. Marte has appeared in 595.
Marte’s speed score, a statistic developed by Bill James that quantifies a player’s baserunning abilities, is 7.7 so far this season. That mark ranks second in the league among qualified hitters behind the Reds’ Hamilton. For comparison, Rickey Henderson averaged a speed score of 7.0 throughout his 25-year career.
The 27-year-old outfielder may not bring much to the plate in terms of power, but he more than makes up for it with his legs. After being named to the first All-Star Game of his young career this season, it appears the league is finally starting to take notice. Good luck trying to catch him though.
Next: No. 4