Outs Above Average: MLB’s best defensive SS
Javier Baez +19
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The King of Infield Defense, El Mago, Javier Baez. Play after dazzling play is the best infielder in all of baseball being worth an incredible +19 OAA. Baez gets there by being a strong +7 OAA going up the middle and forward which isn’t a surprise given his range and ability to make throws from any angle. He’s no slouch going to his right either adding another 4 OAA. The one area he “struggles” in is going backwards adding one more run to his tally.
Andrelton Simmons +16
The former King of the Infield, Simmons is now 30 years old and still bringing the flash with the leather being +16 OAA. Simmons is even better than Baez getting to balls up the middle being +OAA on account of his range and absolute cannon for an arm. He also matches Baez at +7 going forward. The only area he “lags” behind is going right and behind him.
Nick Ahmed +16
Ahmed may only have a 92 wRC+ but he more than makes up for his bat by adding +16 OAA. Ahmed is a solid +5 going to his left and backwards +2 while being average going towards 3B. Where he really shines is being the best of any SS going forward swallowing weakly hit grounders and being worth +10 OAA.
So there you have it. Javier Baez is the best fielder in baseball. The numbers proved what your eyes already knew. Like all new metrics, there are some players that surprise you but the guys who dazzle with the glove are now statistically proven to be incredible.