Atlanta Braves 2021: Dansby Swanson or Andrelton Simmons?

Atlanta Braves – Comparing The Gloves: Andrelton Simmons

You don’t need stats to tell you that Simmons is one of the best in the game on defense, but we’ll use a few. Last season, he placed in the 99th percentile in outs above average. Simmons has found himself in the top 15 in MVP voting four times since 2014. This attention is nearly all due to his defensive prowess.

If you aren’t terribly familiar with defensive runs saved, it uses several metrics to attempt to place a number of runs saved by a player over the average player at his position. So, Simmons’s 12 defensive-runs saved last season does not mean he saved 12, it means he saved 12 more than the average shortstop in the league.

As I’m sure you are well aware, the average major-league shortstop is pretty incredible. Simmons seems like he could make a play on any ball to the left side of the field. He can jump and throw a 97-mph bullet with the flick of a wrist.

Simmons has saved an astonishing 193 runs above average since 2012.

• 2012 – 19 DRS in 49 games. He was on pace for 54 runs saved above average over 1,200 innings.
• Since 2003 (when they began tracking DRS) Simmons has 109 more defensive-runs saved than second place at the shortstop position. The difference between Simmons and second-place J.J. Hardy is 25 more than J.J. Hardy’s 84.  Let that sink in.
• Simmons has the best season in terms of DRS by a shortstop ever recorded with 40 in 2017. He has three of the top six seasons ever.
• He has six of the top 23 seasons of all time at the position.

Atlanta Braves – Comparing The Gloves: Dansby Swanson

On the flipside, Swanson is no Simmons with the leather. However, he is no slouch. Two seasons ago he logged 10 DRS and finished with two last season. Anything above zero means he was above average among major-league shortstops.

You know by watching him that he passes the eye test. Dansby finished in the 80th percentile in outs above average.