SABR Defensive Index: Final 2021 rankings

Here are the final SABR Defensive Index™ rankings for the 2021 season among positional qualifiers for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

For the ninth consecutive season, the SDI will be used to help select the winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™, presented by SABR. The SABR Defensive Index accounts for approximately 25 percent of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process which are added to the votes from the managers and coaches.

For the second consecutive year, Rawlings has expanded the platform to award the best team defense over the course of the regular season. The St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros were the 2021 Gold Glove Team Award winners based on their SABR Defensive Index rankings. Click here to view the full list of 2021 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners.

To learn more about the SABR Defensive Index, visit SABR.org/SDI.

Scroll down to see AL and NL individual and team leaders, or click a link below to see SDI leaders as ranked by position:

 

2021 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners are listed in bold.

AL Overall Leaders (Top 25 Fielders)

Player Team Position SDI
Carlos Correa HOU SS 15.8
Michael A. Taylor KCR CF 12.9
Andrelton Simmons MIN SS 11.8
Dallas Keuchel CHW P 10.2
Joey Gallo TEX/NYY RF 10.0
Kyle Tucker HOU RF 9.5
Marcus Semien TOR 2B 8.4
Isiah Kiner-Falefa TEX SS 8.4
Myles Straw HOU/CLE CF 8.2
Matt Chapman OAK 3B 8.1
Aaron Judge NYY RF 8.1
Whit Merrifield KCR 2B 7.5
Sean Murphy OAK C 6.8
Austin Hedges CLE C 6.5
Kevin Kiermaier TBR CF 6.2
José Ramirez CLE 3B 6.1
Manuel Margot TBR RF 5.6
Max Kepler MIN RF 5.4
David Fletcher LAA 2B 5.3
Adolis García TEX CF 5.0
Max Stassi LAA C 4.7
Enrique Hernández BOS CF 4.7
J.P. Crawford SEA SS 4.3
Yuli Gurriel HOU 1B 4.3
Jose Trevino TEX C 4.1

 

NL Overall Leaders (Top 25 Fielders)

Player Team Position SDI
Harrison Bader STL CF 14.4
Jacob Stallings PIT C 9.2
Paul DeJong STL SS 7.5
Adam Duvall MIA/ATL RF 7.5
Kevin Newman PIT SS 7.0
Ryan McMahon COL 3B 6.7
Nolan Arenado STL 3B 6.7
Tommy Edman STL 2B 6.5
Ozzie Albies ATL 2B 6.5
Taijuan Walker NYM P 6.0
Trevor Story COL SS 6.0
Avisaíl García MIL RF 5.9
Max Muncy LAD 1B 5.7
Elias Díaz COL C 5.6
Brandon Crawford SFG SS 5.6
Mike Yastrzemski SFG RF 5.5
Paul Goldschmidt STL 1B 5.5
Tyler O’Neill STL LF 5.3
Jackie Bradley Jr. MIL CF 5.3
Max Fried ATL P 5.1
Zach Davies CHC P 4.9
Manny Machado SDP 3B 4.9
Yadier Molina STL C 4.3
Zack Wheeler PHI P 4.2
Juan Soto WSN RF 4.1

 

AL Team Leaders

Team Catchers Infielders Outfielders Pitchers Total SDI
HOU -0.6 28.7 20.4 1.0 49.5
TEX 8.6 17.0 27.3 -6.1 46.8
TBR 3.7 14.9 22.4 2.4 43.4
CLE 1.2 10.1 6.2 4.9 22.4
TOR 2.1 15.0 4.6 -0.3 21.4
MIN 5.2 8.0 1.9 -6.9 8.2
KCR -0.7 2.4 5.2 -7.7 -0.8
SEA -3.0 9.1 -8.1 0.5 -1.5
OAK 6.3 -7.9 -2.5 -3.4 -7.5
NYY -6.5 -13.0 8.4 -8.5 -19.6
LAA -4.0 -5.3 -12.9 0.6 -21.6
BAL -8.9 -20.9 -3.9 1.2 -32.5
DET -3.5 -15.8 -15.5 -2.6 -37.4
CHW -16.3 -9.1 -8.2 -7.9 -41.5
BOS -0.8 -42.4 -3.4 -8.6 -55.2

 

NL Team Leaders

Team Catchers Infielders Outfielders Pitchers Total SDI
STL 2.1 32.1 16.2 5.8 56.2
COL 2.2 30.1 4.4 -5.7 31.0
MIL 6.1 -7.7 27.1 -1.5 24.0
SFG 2.8 -0.5 18.2 1.3 21.8
ATL -3.8 6.3 12.3 6.4 21.2
NYM 4.4 2.5 -1.7 6.9 12.1
LAD 3.5 7.5 3.2 -2.2 12.0
MIA -3.1 -3.3 5.9 6.5 6.0
PIT 8.6 7.1 -22.3 2.0 -4.6
CHC -0.8 7.2 -9.3 -2.8 -5.7
SDP -4.7 9.6 -8.8 -3.4 -7.3
WSN 1.2 -11.4 -6.2 0.4 -16.0
CIN 2.6 -10.9 -20.4 -0.4 -29.1
PHI -0.8 -22.6 -15.3 8.3 -30.4
ARI -1.6 -26.6 -6.4 -0.5 -35.1

 


 

AL leaders, by position

(2021 Rawlings Gold Glove Award qualifiers)

Pitchers

Player Team SDI
Dallas Keuchel CHW 10.2
Zack Greinke HOU 3.8
José Berrios MIN/TOR 3.7
Frankie Montas OAK 2.2
Lance McCullers Jr. HOU 2.2
Yusei Kikuchi SEA 2.1
Cole Irvin OAK 0.9
Nathan Eovaldi BOS 0.4
Mike Minor KCR 0.1
Kyle Gibson TEX 0.1
Gerrit Cole NYY 0.0
Jordan Lyles TEX -0.5
Sean Manaea OAK -0.5
Adam Cimber TOR -0.6
Chris Bassitt OAK -0.7
Robbie Ray TOR -1.5
Lucas Giolito CHW -1.7
Hyun Jin Ryu TOR -2.0
Dylan Cease CHW -4.9

 

Catchers

Player Team SDI
Sean Murphy OAK 6.8
Austin Hedges CLE 6.5
Max Stassi LAA 4.7
Jose Trevino TEX 4.1
Mike Zunino TBR 3.6
Christian Vázquez BOS 2.2
Martín Maldonado HOU 1.4
Ryan Jeffers MIN 1.0
Tom Murphy SEA -0.4
Salvador Perez KCR -3.6
Pedro Severino BAL -6.8
Gary Sánchez NYY -8.2

 

First base

Player Team SDI
Yuli Gurriel HOU 4.3
Ty France SEA 3.2
Matt Olson OAK 1.4
Yandy Díaz TBR 1.2
Carlos Santana KCR 0.7
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. TOR 0.5
José Abreu CHW -0.7
Jonathan Schoop DET -1.2
Jared Walsh LAA -1.2
Nathaniel Lowe TEX -2.7
Miguel Sanó MIN -5.6
Bobby Dalbec BOS -6.1

 

Second base

Player Team SDI
Marcus Semien TOR 8.4
Whit Merrifield KCR 7.5
David Fletcher LAA 5.3
Jorge Polanco MIN 2.8
Dylan Moore SEA 1.7
Jose Altuve HOU 1.7
Rougned Odor NYY 1.1
DJ LeMahieu NYY 0.4
Tony Kemp OAK -0.9
Leury Garcia CHW -1.5
Willi Castro DET -3.1
Nick Solak TEX -3.6
Brandon Lowe TBR -4.8
Cesar Hernandez CLE/CHW -5.0

 

Third base

Player Team SDI
Matt Chapman OAK 8.1
José Ramirez CLE 6.1
Joey Wendle TBR 4.0
Yoán Moncada CHW 2.2
Luis Arraez MIN 1.4
Kyle Seager SEA 0.6
Gio Urshela NYY -1.2
Jeimer Candelario DET -2.9
Maikel Franco BAL -4.8
Hunter Dozier KCR -7.3
Rafael Devers BOS -11.5

 

Shortstop

Player Team SDI
Carlos Correa HOU 15.8
Andrelton Simmons MIN 11.8
Isiah Kiner-Falefa TEX 8.4
J.P. Crawford SEA 4.3
Nicky Lopez KCR 1.4
Bo Bichette TOR 1.0
Tim Anderson CHW -0.2
Xander Bogaerts BOS -3.6
Amed Rosario CLE -6.1
Elvis Andrus OAK -6.9
Gleyber Torres NYY -8.2
José Iglesias LAA/BOS -17.2

 

Left field

Player Team SDI
Andrew Benintendi KCR 3.7
Randy Arozarena TBR 2.3
Austin Hays BAL 1.9
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. TOR 1.0
Michael Brantley HOU 0.3
Andrew Vaughn CHW -0.2
Robbie Grossman DET -0.9
Alex Verdugo BOS -1.0
Mark Canha OAK -5.4

 

Center field

Player Team SDI
Michael A. Taylor KCR 12.9
Myles Straw HOU/CLE 8.2
Kevin Kiermaier TBR 6.2
Adolis García TEX 5.0
Enrique Hernández BOS 4.7
Ramón Laureano OAK 1.8
Cedric Mullins BAL 0.8
Akil Baddoo DET -1.5
Brett Gardner NYY -1.7
Randal Grichuk TOR -2.6

 

Right field

Player Team SDI
Joey Gallo TEX/NYY 10.0
Kyle Tucker HOU 9.5
Aaron Judge NYY 8.1
Manuel Margot TBR 5.6
Max Kepler MIN 5.4
Teoscar Hernández TOR 0.2
Hunter Renfroe BOS 0.1
Mitch Haniger SEA -2.9

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NL leaders, by position

(2021 Rawlings Gold Glove Award qualifiers)

Pitchers

Player Team SDI
Taijuan Walker NYM 6.0
Max Fried ATL 5.1
Zach Davies CHC 4.9
Zack Wheeler PHI 4.2
Wade Miley CIN 2.3
Brandon Woodruff MIL 1.8
Kevin Gausman SFG 1.7
Joe Musgrove SDP 1.6
Tyler Mahle CIN 1.5
Anthony DeSclafani SFG 1.5
Merrill Kelly ARI 1.4
Julio Urías LAD 1.4
Adam Wainwright STL 1.2
German Márquez COL 1.2
Patrick Corbin WSN 1.2
Marcus Stroman NYM 1.0
Max Scherzer WSN/LAD 0.8
Kyle Hendricks CHC 0.6
Tyler Anderson PIT 0.2
Luis Castillo CIN -0.1
Walker Buehler LAD -0.4
Charlie Morton ATL -0.7
Corbin Burnes MIL -0.9
Sandy Alcantara MIA -1.4
Yu Darvish SDP -1.6
Aaron Nola PHI -2.0

 

Catchers

Player Team SDI
Jacob Stallings PIT 9.2
Elias Díaz COL 5.6
Yadier Molina STL 4.3
J.T. Realmuto PHI 3.3
Willson Contreras CHC 2.9
Yan Gomes WSN 2.8
Tucker Barnhart CIN 2.4
Buster Posey SFG 2.0
Will Smith LAD 1.5
Omar Narváez MIL 1.5
Carson Kelly ARI 1.3
James McCann NYM -1.6
Victor Caratini SDP -3.5

 

First base

Player Team SDI
Max Muncy LAD 5.7
Paul Goldschmidt STL 5.5
Christian Walker ARI 3.9
Joey Votto CIN 3.0
Anthony Rizzo CHC 1.8
Pete Alonso NYM 1.6
C.J. Cron COL 1.2
Jesús Aguilar MIA 1.0
Pavin Smith ARI -0.2
Josh Bell WSN -0.3
Freddie Freeman ATL -0.5
Eric Hosmer SDP -1.9
Rhys Hoskins PHI -2.6

 

Second base

Player Team SDI
Tommy Edman STL 6.5
Ozzie Albies ATL 6.5
Kolten Wong MIL 4.0
Jake Cronenworth SDP 3.7
Jazz Chisholm MIA 3.3
Jean Segura PHI 2.0
Jeff McNeil NYM 2.0
Adam Frazier PIT/SDP 1.0
Josh Harrison WSN 0.7
Jonathan India CIN -1.2
Josh Rojas ARI -2.1

 

Third base

Player Team SDI
Ryan McMahon COL 6.7
Nolan Arenado STL 6.7
Manny Machado SDP 4.9
Austin Riley ATL 3.0
Starlin Castro WSN 2.5
Wilmer Flores SFG -0.6
Eugenio Suárez CIN -1.7
Kris Bryant CHC/SFG -2.0
Justin Turner LAD -2.3
Jonathan Villar NYM -3.6
Eduardo Escobar ARI/MIL -4.0
Alec Bohm PHI -6.0

 

Shortstop

Player Team SDI
Paul DeJong STL 7.5
Kevin Newman PIT 7.0
Trevor Story COL 6.0
Brandon Crawford SFG 5.6
Francisco Lindor NYM 3.5
Javier Báez CHC/NYM 3.4
Miguel Rojas MIA 2.0
Nick Ahmed ARI 1.9
Trea Turner WSN/LAD 1.4
Willy Adames MIL -1.3
Kyle Farmer CIN -1.3
Dansby Swanson ATL -3.1
Luis Urías MIL -3.4
Fernando Tatis Jr. SDP -7.8

 

Left field

Player Team SDI
Tyler O’Neill STL 5.3
David Peralta ARI 3.5
Christian Yelich MIL 2.0
AJ Pollock LAD 1.9
Raimel Tapia COL 1.4
Tommy Pham SDP -2.7
Joc Pederson CHC -3.4
Dominic Smith NYM -3.4
Jesse Winker CIN -3.8
Andrew McCutchen PHI -6.6

 

Center field

Player Team SDI
Harrison Bader STL 14.4
Jackie Bradley Jr. MIL 5.3
Trent Grisham SDP 3.9
Starling Marte MIA 3.5
Guillermo Heredia ATL 1.6
Garrett Hampson COL 1.5
Odúbel Herrera PHI 1.4
Bryan Reynolds PIT 0.8
Víctor Robles WSN 0.1
Chris Taylor LAD -1.4
Ian Happ CHC -2.1
Tyler Naquin CIN -2.8

 

Right field

Player Team SDI
Adam Duvall MIA/ATL 7.5
Avisaíl García MIL 5.9
Mike Yastrzemski SFG 5.5
Juan Soto WSN 4.1
Mookie Betts LAD 3.8
Jason Heyward CHC 2.8
Dylan Carlson STL 2.5
Michael Conforto NYM -2.6
Charlie Blackmon COL -3.7
Gregory Polanco PIT -5.1
Nick Castellanos CIN -5.9
Bryce Harper PHI -6.3
Wil Myers SDP -7.9

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Click here to learn more about the SDI’s role in the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process.