Defense is the most underrated aspect of baseball. The Rangers defense in 2026 has been a mixed bag. Here is the position-by-position breakdown.
The good:
Second base: Marcus Semien continues to be an elite defender. His OAA (Outs Above Average) of +8 is 4th among all second basemen. Source: Baseball Savant.
Center field: The center fielder has an OAA of +6 and a sprint speed in the 94th percentile per Baseball Savant. His reaction time of 0.14 seconds to first step compares to a league average of 0.21.
The bad:
Shortstop: Seager's defensive metrics have declined. OAA of -4 in 2026. His range to his left has diminished. Source: Baseball Savant range charts.
Left field: Below average arm strength limits the ability to throw out runners at the plate. -3 OAA with 2 outfield assists in 70+ games.
The neutral:
First base, third base, right field: All grading between -1 and +2 OAA. Functional but not difference-makers.
Team defensive summary:
- Defensive Runs Saved (DRS): +18 (12th in MLB)
- OAA team total: +12 (14th in MLB)
The defense is slightly above average, carried by the up-the-middle players and hurt by the corner positions.
Sources:
- Baseball Savant -- OAA, sprint speed, reaction time
- FanGraphs -- Defensive Runs Saved
- Baseball Reference -- fielding stats
Center field defense being elite is critical because the corner outfield defense is below average. You need someone in center who can cover the gaps.