How Effective Is Nolan Arenado as a Defender Today?
As Nolan Arenado approaches his 35th birthday this April, many are curious about his defensive prowess. While he still shows considerable skill for his age, he appears to be somewhat distanced from the peak of his defensive abilities.
For those who have been following baseball, it’s widely recognized that Nolan Arenado stands out as one of the greatest defensive third basemen in history. His impressive accolades include 10 Gold Glove Awards and 5 Fielding Bible Awards, which speak volumes about his defensive capabilities over the years.
But what does the current state of Arenado's defense look like as he prepares to join the Arizona Diamondbacks after experiencing the most challenging offensive season of his career?
Defensive Runs Saved: A Snapshot Over the Past Two Seasons
Here’s a quick look at the leading players in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) during the last two seasons:
| Player | Defensive Runs Saved |
|--------------------|----------------------|
| Ke’Bryan Hayes | 29 |
| Matt Chapman | 22 |
| Ryan McMahon | 20 |
| Ernie Clement | 20 |
| Maikel Garcia | 16 |
| Nolan Arenado | 12 |
| Matt Shaw | 12 |
When we analyze Arenado's DRS over the past three seasons, we find totals of 0, 6, and 6 respectively. While he may not be the standout performer who saved 20 runs in 2022, it's important to note that he is not finished yet. Remarkably, he is among just five third basemen who have managed to record at least 5 Runs Saved during each of the last two seasons, alongside Hayes, Chapman, McMahon, and Clement.
Arenado's excellence in his prime was particularly highlighted by his extraordinary performance on balls hit to the left side of the field. In the initial decade of his career, he achieved an outstanding +134 plays above average on such plays, consistently ranking among the league leaders. In comparison, Matt Chapman’s peak in this category is +11, while Ke’Bryan Hayes has a top performance of +10. In contrast, Arenado's numbers have dropped to +1 and +2 over the last two years. His total of 6 Runs Saved stems from being slightly above average when moving left or right and also fielding balls hit directly at him.
Much of Arenado's early success can be attributed to his signature barehanded plays, an area where he truly excelled. Since his debut in 2013, he has performed seven of the top eight seasons recorded for successful barehand plays, achieving this remarkable feat consecutively from 2013 to 2019.
During this period, Arenado executed 140 barehanded plays at third base, averaging around 20 such plays each season—an achievement unmatched by any other player. The closest competitor during those years was Todd Frazier, with only 66 successful barehand plays. Notably, third basemen overall had a success rate of 38% on barehand chances, whereas Arenado succeeded in 52% of his attempts during that time.
Today, Arenado remains capable of making barehand plays, having completed 19 over the last two seasons—the highest number for any player at his position in Major League Baseball. However, his success rate has dipped to 42%, converting 19 out of 45 opportunities. One can’t help but wonder how many more he would have made in his prime.
Although age has taken its toll, it's noteworthy that Arenado continues to perform relatively well for a player of his age. Third base is a position typically held by younger athletes, and in fact, only 10 players aged 34 or older started at third base in 2025, with Arenado's 86 games played trailing only Max Muncy’s 90.
For the Diamondbacks, it’s crucial to recognize that Arenado's contributions at third base are likely to be a significant upgrade compared to recent performances. The team hasn't recorded a positive number of Runs Saved at third base since the 2019 season. The last time a Diamondbacks player achieved at least 6 Runs Saved in a season was Jake Lamb, who accomplished this back in 2015 with a total of 13.
