Cincinnati Reds’ defense works hard to support the offense

The Cincinnati Reds were a winning team when their defense was last elite and hopes that happens again.

The Cincinnati Reds have been slowly reconstructing a good defensive team, including winning the occasional game.  With Jose Peraza at second base and Scott Schebler in right field, the weaker players are playing less difficult positions.  Third baseman Eugenio Suarez is also better than last year.

So far the Cincinnati Reds have committed the third fewest errors in the National League.  They have committed the fewest of any team in the NL Central.  In 2016 they committed the seventh most in all of MLB.

The Reds also rank third in fielding percentage.  In 2016 the Reds had the fifth worst fielding percentage in the NL.  Of course the defense was so bad that they ranked second behind the Chicago Cubs in the Central.

In MLB’s defensive efficiency ratio the Reds rank 11th in MLB so far this season.  This is the one area where the Reds finished better last season.  Because the system discounts home runs, the Reds have the tendency to look pretty good there.

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There is more to defense than how the number make the Reds look as  a team.  There are also individual players.  How much they play and where they play can make a difference.

The Cincinnati Reds have seen large defensive improvements from a handful of players since 2016.

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Perhaps the most amazing change has been the play of Suarez.  He went from committing the most errors in the NL last season to ranking 15th in MLB so far this season.  He has done this while having the third most chances in MLB.

Meanwhile, at second base Jose Peraza only has three errors this season.  No other full-time second baseman in the NL has fewer errors.  However, because he has spent so much time at shortstop this season, he doesn’t rate in the fielding percentage among second basemen.

An often underappreciated defensive stat is catcher’s ERA.  Last season, no NL catcher had a higher CERA among qualifiers than the Reds’ Tucker Barnhart.  This season Barnhart is ranked 24th of 32, which is good considering the Reds’ have the worst pitching in MLB.

Of course, this is avoiding the two elite outfielders and one half of the duo of Reds’ 2017 All-Stars.  Both the Reds’ best defensive center fielder ever in Billy Hamilton and left fielder Adam Duvall were Gold Glove finalists last season.  Zack Cozart also is among the best defensive shortstops in the game.

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The Reds’ starting rotation may be bad, but their defense is improving.  The pitchers need to focus on keeping the ball in the park.  Maybe then, the team will be competitive.