We’re hesitant to make any proclamations about anything defense-related a few weeks into the season. But we like to honor defensive excellence regardless of what time of year it is. So we’ll point out a few things we’ve found notable. Here are a few of them from outfielders. We’ll try to look at infielders (and maybe catchers) next week.

Mark April 24 on your calendar as it’s the day that Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong led the majors in a stat that our company invented some years back, Total Runs.

Total Runs combines hitting, baserunning and defensive performance into one number in a manner similar to the run component used by Wins Above Replacement.

And yes, it’s Crow-Armstrong, not Aaron Judge or Pete Alonso, who ranks No. 1 and defense is a part of that. Crow-Armstrong plays one of the most important positions on the field and he plays it like someone wanting to win a Platinum Glove. His 16 Runs Saved since the start of last season (including 5 in 2025) are tied for the most among center fielders.

Shameless plug: He was one of a few topics of conversation on this week’s edition of The SIS Baseball Podcast.

Most Total Runs – 2025 Season

Fernando Tatis Jr. is back to chasing down fly balls like he did two years ago when he co-led the majors with 27 Defensive Runs Saved. Former major leaguer and current ESPN broadcaster Doug Glanville said on our podcast that Tatis is a player who would most likely be a good gymnast too, because of his flexibility. He’s made five catches that earned “Good Fielding Play” tallies from our Data Scouts, including this one that Glanville loved.

“He slid for the ball and he kept sliding, and while he was sliding he threw a rocket to first base,” Glanville said. “I was like ‘wait, how did he even get that ball?'”

The Padres rank No. 2 in MLB in terms of turning fly balls hit to the outfield into outs (among balls that stay in the park), trailing only the Reds.

Staying out West and staying in the outfield, Giants center fielders had the worst Runs Saved of any team in baseball in 2024. In fact, they were the worst defensively of any team at any position. But fan-favorite Jung Hoo Lee is healthy now after missing most of last season with an injury. And he’s good enough such that the negative Runs Saved total may turn positive for the Giants in 2025.