Who are the Runs Saved Leaders? (Part II)

The center field list is dominated by speedy young players with an average age of 25. Peter Bourjos leads the way with 16 Runs Saved defensively. In his brief career (129 games), Bourjos has played a phenomenal center field, saving the Angels an estimated total of 31 runs in the field. Franklin Gutierrez, limited by injuries early in the season, is the elder statesman of the group at 28. He is a two-time Fielding Bible Award winner and this year he has saved nine runs in only 35 games.

Another Angel is atop the leaderboard in right field. Torii Hunter is experiencing a defensive re-birth in his second season as a right fielder. After a mediocre 2010 defensive campaign, Hunter has saved his team 12 runs defensively to lead all right fielders. A move to right field has also benefitted Carlos Beltran, who has saved the Mets seven runs. Nick Swisher has saved eight runs for that other New York team.

At age 23, Jhoulys Chacin has really blossomed as a pitcher in 2011 (8-5, 3.10 ERA). His defensive work in the field has kept pace. He is among the leaders at pitcher with four runs saved for the Rockies while fielding his position on the mound. Mark Buehrle, with four runs saved, is part of the seven-way tie as he seeks his third consecutive Fielding Bible Award.

For more information on Runs Saved, including an FAQ, visit FieldingBible.com. For updated Runs Saved toals, visit BillJamesOnline.com, Baseball-Reference.com, or FanGraphs.com.

There is still time to enter the Fielding Bible-Volume III Defensive Analysis Contest! Entries are due July 12.