Photo: Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire

BY MARK SIMON

The Rangers, fresh off a sweep of the Brewers, lead the majors with 97 Defensive Runs Saved. They’re 24 runs clear of the No. 2 team (Cubs) and 46 runs ahead of the No. 3 team (Braves). If you were to say they were the best defensive team in the majors, we’d have a hard time disagreeing.

That they are this good is impressive though not necessarily surprising. We noted in our preseason preview series that the Rangers had the potential to be one of the best defensive teams, though they didn’t get there in the manner that we thought they would. 

In theory, they’re staggering to the finish line given an abundance of injuries to some of their top defensive performers. But in practice they’ve won 14 of 18 and are a season-high seven games over .500 with postseason hopes very much alive.

In fact, two of their top three defensive players are out. Shortstop Corey Seager had an appendectomy and hasn’t played since August 27. Right fielder Adolis García is out with an ankle injury and last played on September 1.

Seager has had by far the best defensive season of his career. He’s third among shortstops with 16 Runs Saved. He’s never finished a season with more than 6 Runs Saved at the position. 

He’s much more about consistency than flash. We track Good Fielding Plays, which encompass highlight-reel plays and also things like keeping a ball on the infield to prevent baserunner advancement. Seager has only 4 this season, which isn’t even in the top 30 among shortstops. But his range rates well above average on balls hit either to his left or his right.

García has twice been honored as a Defensive Player of the Month for his excellence this season, winning for May and July. His 16 Runs Saved are the most he’s had in right field in any season (he had 15 in only 51 games in 2021). It represents a big bounceback from his -5 Runs Saved last season. In particular he’s been very good on balls hit to the shallowest part of the outfield.

The other Rangers player with great defensive numbers is outfielder Wyatt Langford, who ranks second with 11 Runs Saved in left field and also has 5 Runs Saved in center field, filling the latter position after Evan Carter (4 Runs Saved) suffered a season-ending injury. Langford has covered much more ground than he did last season. He’s made 13 more plays than the average left fielder and 6 more plays than the average center fielder. His 19 combined Plays Saved is well more than his 2 in 2024.

The Rangers have 10 Runs Saved at three positions (shortstop and both corner outfield spots). The one team that has them beat is the Blue Jays, who have 10 Runs Saved at five different positions, but they’re -12 in right field and -13 at shortstop. The Rangers don’t have any defensive holes that big.

Other Rangers with notable Runs Saved totals are injured second baseman Marcus Semien (6) and also backup catcher Kyle Higashioka (4). The most surprising position where the Rangers are positive in Runs Saved is first base. Jake Burger has played there the most and has 0 Runs Saved. But occasionally-used Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith have combined for 6 in 52 games. 

There are two players with good reputations but surprisingly poor Runs Saved: Gold Glove-winning catcher Jonah Heim (-6) and third baseman Josh Jung (one of three third basemen on the team at -2). Jung was outstanding in the 2023 postseason but has not been able to match that level of play in either 2024 or 2025.

The Rangers and Cubs have nearly identical Runs Saved with regards to the skill aspects of defense. But where the Rangers separate from the Cubs and other teams is in defensive positioning. 

They have 21 Runs Saved from infield positioning, which ranks tied for seventh. They get almost all of their credit for that for putting fielders in good spots to make plays on partial shifts, situations where the defense plays a second baseman or shortstop adjacent to second base and maneuvers other defenders accordingly. And they have 7 Runs Saved from their outfield positioning, a total topped by only three teams.

The combination of skill and positioning has produced a team that easily ranks No. 1 in how often they turn grounders and bunts into outs (77% of the time) and No. 7 on how often they turn flies, line drives and popups into outs (69% out rate).

They’re the only team to be top seven in both and that pretty much sums up why they are where they are defensively.

Rangers Defensive Runs Saved – 2025 Season

Notable Ranks