Photo: Steven King/Icon Sportswire

Part of a series of articles previewing the defensive performance of all 30 MLB teams by asking the question … are they good?

To see the full series, click here.

2024 Defensive Runs Saved Rank: 14th

Team Strengths

Defense is what the Rockies do best and that starts with three players: center fielder Brenton Doyle, third baseman Ryan McMahon, and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar.

Doyle is the reigning Fielding Bible Award winner at his position. In his first two MLB seasons, he’s posted the two best defensive seasons by a Rockies center fielder since Runs Saved was first tracked in 2003. He covers a lot of ground and he can throw with a velocity in the high 90s.

McMahon has four straight seasons of at least 10 Runs Saved at third base and finished in the top four in Runs Saved there in each of those seasons. Simply put, he’s an excellent defensive player.

Tovar is one of baseball’s best defensive shortstops. He’s saved 12 and 10 runs respectively in his first two seasons as a full-time player.

Defensive Runs Saved Leaders

Shortstops – Last 2 Years Third Base – Last 4 Years
1. Dansby Swanson 1. Ke’Bryan Hayes
2. Ezequiel Tovar 2. Ryan McMahon
3. Anthony Volpe 3. Matt Chapman

Additionally, Michael Toglia put up good defensive numbers in his first year as a full-time first baseman. Toglia rated as pretty good at getting to balls hit in the ‘34’ hole and finished with 10 Runs Saved, which ranked 2nd at the position.

Team Weaknesses

The Rockies signed Thairo Estrada to play second base this offseason. By our measures, he hasn’t been great there in two of the last three years, with Runs Saved totals of -12, 1, and -7. 

In 2021, we’d have listed catcher Jacob Stallings as a strength, but his numbers have faltered the last three seasons and look similar to Estrada’s (-9, 0, and -6).

Other Things To Know

Nolan Jones looks like he could be a regular starter in left field. Which Jones will the Rockies get? The one who had 8 Runs Saved there in 2023 or the one who had -4 in 2024? Jones has a high-value arm, but he’s got to find a way to get to more balls in Colorado’s spacious outfield.

Are The Rockies A Good Defensive Team?

Yes. It wouldn’t be a stretch for the Rockies to have three Gold Glove winners this season. They’re so good where they’re good that it makes up for any deficiencies elsewhere. Now, about the rest of the team …