Sam Fuld's amazing defense
His bat might not be anything special, but his glove is
Christian Karayannides
Baseball Info Solutions
ESPN Insider
Samuel Babson (yes, Babson) Fuld has done an admirable job serving as the replacement for the departed Carl Crawford in left field for the Tampa Bay Rays this year. A throw-in as part of the Matt Garza trade, Fuld has wowed fans with his spectacular diving plays and unrelenting hustle. The Legend of Sam Fuld has generated a rabid fan following, but after hitting .396 through his first 14 games, he has gone back to hitting like, well, Sam Fuld.
His average is now down to .252, and his OPS of .683 is right around his career mark. However, that does not mean we should write him off as an every-day player. Because as bad as a hitter as Fuld might be, he's that good a fielder.
<OFFER>According to Baseball Info Solutions' estimates, he has already saved nine runs with his defense in left, including one with his arm. To put that number in perspective, Fuld is first among left fielders and tied for first among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved. The statistic evaluates eight components of defense, including range, outfield throwing arm and home run robberies, to measure the impact of each player's defensive performance. In 348 career innings in left field (roughly a quarter of a full season), Fuld has 12 Runs Saved.
By comparison, Crawford, a three-time Fielding Bible Award winner, averaged 17 Runs Saved over his final three seasons in Tampa. Fuld is on pace to surpass that mark and then some.
Before Rays fans get too excited, remember it is still May, and defensive numbers can fluctuate as much as offensive numbers. Fuld has had a great start in left field, but will he keep it up?
From a classic scouting perspective, Fuld has shown the ability to continue his outstanding fielding production. The 29-year-old covers a great deal of ground with top-tier speed that compensates for his short legs. He is listed at 5-foot-10, but has excellent leaping ability and good body control while airborne. While he comfortably tops the Web Gem scoreboard, Baseball Info Solutions data shows that Fuld also leads all outfielders with 17 Good Fielding Plays, which are Web Gem-level plays in which he recorded an out or prevented a baserunner advancement. The next-best outfielder has just 11 so far.
Of course, on offense, he leaves a lot to be desired. Fuld's bat does not pack a punch, but he plays a position that is traditionally associated with power hitters. Among left fielders, Fuld currently ranks 12th in slugging percentage (.374), right in the same vicinity of the career numbers of middle infielders such as Jack Wilson and Miguel Cairo.
In order for Fuld to hold his left-field job, he will need to at least match the offensive production of the worst offensive left fielders in baseball over the past few years, such as Juan Pierre, Randy Winn, and Scott Podsednik. These players compensated for their low slugging percentage by stealing bases and posting passable on-base numbers. Fuld's speed (11 stolen bases) and keen batting eye (17:12 K/BB) suggest he has the tools to also meet these criteria. If Pierre (.647 OPS the last two years) can play every day while possessing one of the worst arms in baseball, then Fuld should be able to hold down a job as well.
Considering Fuld's defensive potential, his career batting line suggests he's capable of holding down a left field job at the major league level. Tampa Bay has shown patience and confidence in Fuld, keeping him at the leadoff spot and giving him consistent at-bats while he works through his hitting slump. However, stud prospect Desmond Jennings likely has more offensive potential than the Fuld and will probably displace him at some point this season.
If so, then the Rays will have one heck of a defensive replacement. Because as easy as it is to dismiss Fuld for his lack of pop, his elite defense makes him a useful major league player.
Fuld has shown us that he has the ability to be a tremendous defensive player. His future in the league, however, is dependent on his ability to make adjustments to major league pitching. We all know how the Legend of Sam Fuld began, but it is up to him to decide how the story ends.
His bat might not be anything special, but his glove is
Christian Karayannides
Baseball Info Solutions
ESPN Insider
Samuel Babson (yes, Babson) Fuld has done an admirable job serving as the replacement for the departed Carl Crawford in left field for the Tampa Bay Rays this year. A throw-in as part of the Matt Garza trade, Fuld has wowed fans with his spectacular diving plays and unrelenting hustle. The Legend of Sam Fuld has generated a rabid fan following, but after hitting .396 through his first 14 games, he has gone back to hitting like, well, Sam Fuld.
His average is now down to .252, and his OPS of .683 is right around his career mark. However, that does not mean we should write him off as an every-day player. Because as bad as a hitter as Fuld might be, he's that good a fielder.
<OFFER>According to Baseball Info Solutions' estimates, he has already saved nine runs with his defense in left, including one with his arm. To put that number in perspective, Fuld is first among left fielders and tied for first among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved. The statistic evaluates eight components of defense, including range, outfield throwing arm and home run robberies, to measure the impact of each player's defensive performance. In 348 career innings in left field (roughly a quarter of a full season), Fuld has 12 Runs Saved.
By comparison, Crawford, a three-time Fielding Bible Award winner, averaged 17 Runs Saved over his final three seasons in Tampa. Fuld is on pace to surpass that mark and then some.
Before Rays fans get too excited, remember it is still May, and defensive numbers can fluctuate as much as offensive numbers. Fuld has had a great start in left field, but will he keep it up?
From a classic scouting perspective, Fuld has shown the ability to continue his outstanding fielding production. The 29-year-old covers a great deal of ground with top-tier speed that compensates for his short legs. He is listed at 5-foot-10, but has excellent leaping ability and good body control while airborne. While he comfortably tops the Web Gem scoreboard, Baseball Info Solutions data shows that Fuld also leads all outfielders with 17 Good Fielding Plays, which are Web Gem-level plays in which he recorded an out or prevented a baserunner advancement. The next-best outfielder has just 11 so far.
Of course, on offense, he leaves a lot to be desired. Fuld's bat does not pack a punch, but he plays a position that is traditionally associated with power hitters. Among left fielders, Fuld currently ranks 12th in slugging percentage (.374), right in the same vicinity of the career numbers of middle infielders such as Jack Wilson and Miguel Cairo.
In order for Fuld to hold his left-field job, he will need to at least match the offensive production of the worst offensive left fielders in baseball over the past few years, such as Juan Pierre, Randy Winn, and Scott Podsednik. These players compensated for their low slugging percentage by stealing bases and posting passable on-base numbers. Fuld's speed (11 stolen bases) and keen batting eye (17:12 K/BB) suggest he has the tools to also meet these criteria. If Pierre (.647 OPS the last two years) can play every day while possessing one of the worst arms in baseball, then Fuld should be able to hold down a job as well.
Considering Fuld's defensive potential, his career batting line suggests he's capable of holding down a left field job at the major league level. Tampa Bay has shown patience and confidence in Fuld, keeping him at the leadoff spot and giving him consistent at-bats while he works through his hitting slump. However, stud prospect Desmond Jennings likely has more offensive potential than the Fuld and will probably displace him at some point this season.
If so, then the Rays will have one heck of a defensive replacement. Because as easy as it is to dismiss Fuld for his lack of pop, his elite defense makes him a useful major league player.
Fuld has shown us that he has the ability to be a tremendous defensive player. His future in the league, however, is dependent on his ability to make adjustments to major league pitching. We all know how the Legend of Sam Fuld began, but it is up to him to decide how the story ends.