Run Prevention Kings: The 2026 DRS Map by Position
Defense rarely shows up in box score headlines, so this piece uses Defensive Runs Saved to put a number on the plays that quietly erase innings. It explains DRS as a Sports Info Solutions metric that compares a fielder to an average defender at the same position, then estimates the runs saved or allowed.
The key note is timing: every total cited comes from the 2025 regular season, framed as a 2026 outlook for roster building and October baseball. The list runs position by position through the leaders and what their skills change, from pitcher defense and outfield arms to framing and infield range.
The headliners are Steven Kwan and Ernie Clement, who tied for the top overall mark at 22 DRS, with Kwan’s left field arm called out as a separator. Other standouts include Max Fried among pitchers, Mookie Betts at shortstop, Ke’Bryan Hayes at third, and Patrick Bailey behind the plate. The argument is simple: when games tighten, one great defender can steal a run without needing a hot streak.
Who saved the most runs with the glove? MLB Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) Leaders by Position 2026: 2025’s DRS kings, position by position.
