In Major League Baseball’s era of advanced metrics like Statcast and Sabermetrics, defenders are evaluated far beyond traditional error counts. The Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop, Taylor Walls, stands out as arguably the league’s best defensive player, a status that holds true across multiple modern defensive measurements despite his ongoing offensive challenges.
With the departure of franchise shortstop Wander Franco and the earlier trade of Willy Adames, Taylor Walls has received extensive playing time at shortstop for the Rays over the past three years. Although Walls has struggled with his batting average and offensive production, the Rays view his exceptional defense as compensating for his weaknesses at the plate, making him an overall valuable contributor to the team’s success.
Leading the League in Defensive Analytics
Various advanced metrics consistently place Taylor Walls at the top defensively. Defensive Wins Above Replacement (DWAR), which quantifies how many more wins a player provides on defense compared to a replacement-level player, ranks Walls first in the majors. Both ESPN.com and Baseball Reference credit Walls with 1.6 defensive wins above replacement, with only Boston Red Sox utility player Ceddanne Rafaela approaching his level at 1.4.
The Fielding Bible’s Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) metric also names Walls as the league leader. This measurement estimates the number of runs a defender saves compared to an average player at the same position, and Walls leads with a total of 13 runs saved. Only Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves and Ceddanne Rafaela rank near him, with Olson at 12 and Rafaela at 10. Similarly, Fangraphs’ Plus-Minus Runs Saved Above Average continues to highlight Walls’s defensive value above his peers like Olson and Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner.
Although different metrics vary slightly based on methodology and data inputs, they all concur that Walls ranks among the elite defensive players in Major League Baseball, underscoring his reputation as possibly the game’s best defender at shortstop.
Contributions Beyond Defense
While defense remains his strongest attribute, Walls shows additional value in other facets of the game. He has displayed prowess as a baserunner, stealing seven bases this season after tallying 22 and 16 thefts in the previous two years. Moreover, Walls possesses a disciplined eye at the plate, maintaining a career walk rate of 12.1%, well above the league average of 8.4%, indicating patience despite his offensive struggles.
However, Walls continues to face difficulty connecting consistently with Major League pitching. Whether late on fastballs or unable to reach breaking balls, he has trouble making quality contact, especially when runners are in scoring position. This limitation frustrates both the Rays organization and their fans because his at-bats frequently result in outs. Walls’s career OPS sits at a low .574 compared to the league average of .710, and as a switch hitter, he has failed to demonstrate any pronounced advantage from batting from either side.
Why the Rays Rely on Walls Despite Offense
The Rays’ confidence in Walls remains strong, as they have continued to entrust him with the starting shortstop role through multiple seasons. Their acquisition of Ha-Seong Kim from the San Diego Padres this offseason was made fully aware that Kim would miss significant time due to injury. This move suggests the organization’s belief that Walls could “hold the fort” and deliver defensive stability while continuing his development at the plate.
Although fans may find his offensive struggles vexing, Walls’s defensive brilliance and baserunning skills have justified his consistent playing time. The Rays appear committed to Walls as a cornerstone of their infield defense, anticipating that his contributions will sustain the team’s overall competitive edge even if his hitting remains a work in progress.
As Major League Baseball increasingly values defense through sophisticated metrics, Taylor Walls exemplifies how a player can be indispensable due to exceptional fielding. His performance underscores that a combination of elite defense and baserunning can secure a vital role on a major league roster, despite offensive limitations, suggesting that Walls’s status as the “best defensive player baseball” has significant merit and will continue to influence team strategies moving forward.