Mets' Tyrone Taylor Stabilizes Center Field Amid Injury

Taylor Walls of the Tampa Bay Rays is widely regarded as Major League Baseball's best defensive player, with leading metrics such as Defensive Wins Above Replacement (1.6 DWAR) and Defensive Runs Saved (13) placing him at the top among all players. Meanwhile, New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor has become a crucial defensive and offensive contributor in 2025, stepping up as the everyday center fielder following Jose Siri's injury. Taylor has demonstrated strong defensive skills, including a game-changing throw to home plate to tag out Mookie Betts, and a high range and arm value ranking in the 92nd and 88th MLB percentiles, respectively. Offensively, Taylor has improved his batting average to .305 over his last 22 games with an .812 OPS, helping stabilize the Mets' lineup and contributing key runs, including a walk-off double that led to a victory. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praises Taylor as an elite defender whose consistent performance has been vital to the team's ability to remain competitive despite offensive struggles from star players. Both Walls and Taylor exemplify the increasing importance of defense in baseball analytics and team success.