+ - Indicates Hall of Famer. Bold indicates active player.
Statistic Description: Defensive Games PlayedGames played at this position.
Minimum of 1000 IP, 3000 PA, 500 games (fielding), 200 stolen base attempts (catchers) or 80 stolen base attempts (baserunners only since 1951) or 100 decisions for career and active leaderboards for rate statistics.
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jesse Orosco (24) | 1252 | L |
| 2. | Mike Stanton (19) | 1178 | L |
| 3. | John Franco (21) | 1119 | L |
| 4. | Dennis Eckersley+ (24) | 1071 | R |
| 5. | Hoyt Wilhelm+ (21) | 1070 | R |
| 6. | Dan Plesac (18) | 1064 | L |
| 7. | Mike Timlin (18) | 1058 | R |
| 8. | Mariano Rivera (18, 42) | 1051 | R |
| 9. | Kent Tekulve (16) | 1050 | R |
| 10. | Trevor Hoffman (18) | 1035 | R |
| 11. | Jose Mesa (19) | 1022 | R |
| Lee Smith (18) | 1022 | R | |
| 13. | Roberto Hernandez (17) | 1010 | R |
| 14. | Michael Jackson (17) | 1005 | R |
| 15. | Rich Gossage+ (22) | 1002 | R |
| 16. | Lindy McDaniel (21) | 987 | R |
| 17. | Todd Jones (16) | 982 | R |
| 18. | David Weathers (19) | 964 | R |
| 19. | Rollie Fingers+ (17) | 944 | R |
| 20. | Gene Garber (19) | 931 | R |
| 21. | Eddie Guardado (17) | 908 | L |
| 22. | Cy Young+ (22) | 906 | R |
| 23. | Arthur Rhodes (20) | 900 | L |
| 24. | Sparky Lyle (16) | 899 | L |
| 25. | Jim Kaat (25) | 898 | L |
| 26. | Tom Gordon (21) | 890 | R |
| 27. | Paul Assenmacher (14) | 884 | L |
| 28. | Mike Myers (13) | 883 | L |
| 29. | Alan Embree (16) | 882 | L |
| 30. | Jeff Reardon (16) | 880 | R |
| 31. | Don McMahon (18) | 874 | R |
| 32. | LaTroy Hawkins (18, 39) | 871 | R |
| 33. | Phil Niekro+ (24) | 864 | R |
| 34. | Charlie Hough (25) | 858 | R |
| 35. | Billy Wagner (16) | 853 | L |
| 36. | Roy Face (16) | 848 | R |
| 37. | Doug Jones (16) | 846 | R |
| 38. | Paul Quantrill (14) | 841 | R |
| 39. | Bob Wickman (15) | 835 | R |
| 40. | Steve Reed (14) | 833 | R |
| 41. | Julian Tavarez (17) | 828 | R |
| 42. | Tug McGraw (19) | 824 | L |
| 43. | Kyle Farnsworth (14, 36) | 810 | R |
| 44. | Nolan Ryan+ (27) | 807 | R |
| 45. | Walter Johnson+ (21) | 802 | R |
| 46. | Francisco Cordero (14, 37) | 800 | R |
| 47. | Jeff Nelson (15) | 798 | R |
| 48. | Rick Honeycutt (21) | 797 | L |
| 49. | Steve Kline (11) | 796 | L |
| 50. | Buddy Groom (14) | 786 | L |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| 51. | Gaylord Perry+ (22) | 777 | R |
| 52. | Don Sutton+ (23) | 774 | R |
| 53. | Bob Howry (13) | 769 | R |
| 54. | Mark Guthrie (15) | 765 | L |
| Darold Knowles (16) | 765 | L | |
| 56. | Armando Benitez (15) | 762 | R |
| Kenny Rogers (20) | 762 | L | |
| 58. | Tommy John (26) | 760 | L |
| 59. | Jack Quinn (23) | 756 | R |
| 60. | Octavio Dotel (14, 38) | 752 | R |
| 61. | Ron Reed (19) | 751 | R |
| 62. | Warren Spahn+ (21) | 750 | L |
| 63. | Tom Burgmeier (17) | 745 | L |
| Gary Lavelle (13) | 745 | L | |
| 65. | Willie Hernandez (13) | 744 | L |
| Greg Maddux (23) | 744 | R | |
| 67. | Guillermo Mota (14, 38) | 743 | R |
| 68. | Steve Carlton+ (24) | 741 | L |
| 69. | Russ Springer (18) | 740 | R |
| 70. | Ron Perranoski (13) | 737 | L |
| 71. | Ron Kline (17) | 736 | R |
| 72. | Rick Aguilera (16) | 732 | R |
| Steve Bedrosian (14) | 732 | R | |
| 74. | Clay Carroll (15) | 731 | R |
| 75. | Randy Myers (14) | 728 | L |
| 76. | Jason Isringhausen (16, 39) | 724 | R |
| 77. | Mike Marshall (14) | 723 | R |
| Roger McDowell (12) | 723 | R | |
| John Smoltz (21) | 723 | R | |
| 80. | Jeff Fassero (16) | 720 | L |
| 81. | Dave Righetti (16) | 718 | L |
| 82. | Ron Villone (15) | 717 | L |
| 83. | Danny Darwin (21) | 716 | R |
| Darren Oliver (19, 41) | 716 | L | |
| 85. | Eric Plunk (14) | 714 | R |
| 86. | Johnny Klippstein (18) | 711 | R |
| 87. | Greg Minton (16) | 710 | R |
| 88. | Roger Clemens (24) | 709 | R |
| 89. | Pud Galvin+ (15) | 705 | R |
| 90. | Rod Beck (13) | 704 | R |
| Stu Miller (16) | 704 | R | |
| 92. | Greg Harris (15) | 703 | R |
| Troy Percival (14) | 703 | R | |
| 94. | Joe Niekro (22) | 702 | R |
| 95. | Bill Campbell (15) | 700 | R |
| Jeff Montgomery (13) | 700 | R | |
| 97. | Larry Andersen (17) | 699 | R |
| 98. | Bob McClure (19) | 698 | L |
| 99. | Pete Alexander+ (20) | 696 | R |
| Craig Lefferts (12) | 696 | L | |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| Jamie Moyer (25, 49) | 696 | L | |
| 102. | Bob Miller (17) | 694 | R |
| Trever Miller (13) | 694 | L | |
| 104. | Bert Blyleven+ (22) | 692 | R |
| Grant Jackson (18) | 692 | L | |
| Dennis Martinez (23) | 692 | R | |
| Kent Mercker (18) | 692 | L | |
| Eppa Rixey+ (21) | 692 | L | |
| 109. | Early Wynn+ (23) | 691 | R |
| 110. | Eddie Fisher (15) | 690 | R |
| 111. | Terry Mulholland (20) | 685 | L |
| 112. | Rheal Cormier (16) | 683 | L |
| 113. | Tom Glavine (22) | 682 | L |
| Francisco Rodriguez (11, 30) | 682 | R | |
| 115. | Ted Abernathy (14) | 681 | R |
| 116. | J.C. Romero (14, 36) | 680 | L |
| 117. | Tim Worrell (14) | 678 | R |
| 118. | Robin Roberts+ (19) | 676 | R |
| 119. | Waite Hoyt+ (21) | 674 | R |
| Dan Quisenberry (12) | 674 | R | |
| 121. | Dennys Reyes (15) | 673 | L |
| 122. | Derek Lowe (16, 39) | 672 | R |
| 123. | Braden Looper (12) | 670 | R |
| 124. | Red Faber+ (20) | 669 | R |
| 125. | Dave Giusti (15) | 668 | R |
| 126. | Dennis Cook (15) | 665 | L |
| 127. | Fergie Jenkins+ (19) | 664 | R |
| Greg Swindell (17) | 664 | L | |
| 129. | Bruce Sutter+ (12) | 661 | R |
| 130. | David Wells (21) | 660 | L |
| 131. | Miguel Batista (18, 41) | 658 | R |
| 132. | Tom Seaver+ (20) | 656 | R |
| 133. | Paul Lindblad (14) | 655 | L |
| 134. | Chuck McElroy (13) | 654 | L |
| 135. | Wilbur Wood (17) | 651 | L |
| 136. | Brian Fuentes (12, 36) | 650 | L |
| 137. | Hector Carrasco (12, 42) | 647 | R |
| Sad Sam Jones (22) | 647 | R | |
| Dave LaRoche (14) | 647 | L | |
| Joe Nathan (12, 37) | 647 | R | |
| 141. | Robb Nen (10) | 643 | R |
| 142. | Tom Henke (14) | 642 | R |
| 143. | Dutch Leonard (20) | 640 | R |
| Gerry Staley (15) | 640 | R | |
| 145. | Dennis Lamp (16) | 639 | R |
| Mike Remlinger (14) | 639 | L | |
| Diego Segui (15) | 639 | R | |
| 148. | Frank Tanana (21) | 638 | L |
| 149. | Bob Stanley (13) | 637 | R |
| 150. | Christy Mathewson+ (17) | 636 | R |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| 151. | Jeff Shaw (12) | 633 | R |
| 152. | Charlie Root (17) | 632 | R |
| 153. | Dan Miceli (14) | 631 | R |
| 154. | Jim Perry (17) | 630 | R |
| 155. | Jerry Reuss (22) | 628 | L |
| 156. | Tim Wakefield (19) | 627 | R |
| 157. | Doug Brocail (15) | 626 | R |
| Lew Burdette (18) | 626 | R | |
| 159. | Murry Dickson (18) | 625 | R |
| Woodie Fryman (18) | 625 | L | |
| 161. | Mark Davis (15) | 624 | L |
| Red Ruffing+ (22) | 624 | R | |
| 163. | Eddie Plank+ (17) | 623 | L |
| 164. | Gregg Olson (14) | 622 | R |
| 165. | Jeremy Affeldt (11, 33) | 621 | L |
| Kid Nichols+ (15) | 621 | R | |
| 167. | Mike Fetters (16) | 620 | R |
| Dick Tidrow (13) | 620 | R | |
| 169. | Keith Foulke (11) | 619 | R |
| Mitch Williams (11) | 619 | L | |
| 171. | Randy Johnson (22) | 618 | L |
| John Wetteland (12) | 618 | R | |
| 173. | Scott Eyre (13) | 617 | L |
| Herb Pennock+ (22) | 617 | L | |
| Todd Worrell (11) | 617 | R | |
| 176. | Burleigh Grimes+ (19) | 616 | R |
| Lefty Grove+ (17) | 616 | L | |
| 178. | Jeff Brantley (14) | 615 | R |
| 179. | Terry Forster (16) | 614 | L |
| 180. | Justin Speier (12) | 613 | R |
| Rick White (12) | 613 | R | |
| 182. | Jerry Koosman (19) | 612 | L |
| 183. | Rich Rodriguez (13) | 609 | L |
| Dave Smith (13) | 609 | R | |
| 185. | Scott Linebrink (12) | 607 | R |
| 186. | Norm Charlton (13) | 605 | L |
| Dave Veres (10) | 605 | R | |
| 188. | Rafael Betancourt (10, 37) | 603 | R |
| Curt Leskanic (11) | 603 | R | |
| Brad Lidge (11, 35) | 603 | R | |
| 191. | Bob Friend (16) | 602 | R |
| Al Worthington (14) | 602 | R | |
| 193. | Elias Sosa (12) | 601 | R |
| 194. | John Candelaria (19) | 600 | L |
| Tim Keefe+ (14) | 600 | R | |
| Bobo Newsom (20) | 600 | R | |
| 197. | Mike Morgan (22) | 597 | R |
| Rob Murphy (11) | 597 | L | |
| Chad Qualls (9, 33) | 597 | R | |
| 200. | Ted Lyons+ (21) | 594 | R |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| 201. | Pedro Borbon (12) | 593 | R |
| Ray King (10) | 593 | L | |
| 203. | Antonio Alfonseca (11) | 592 | R |
| Jamey Wright (17, 37) | 592 | R | |
| 205. | Jim Bunning+ (17) | 591 | R |
| 206. | Turk Farrell (14) | 590 | R |
| 207. | Moe Drabowsky (17) | 589 | R |
| Jeff Russell (14) | 589 | R | |
| Dan Wheeler (13, 34) | 589 | R | |
| 210. | Mickey Lolich (16) | 586 | L |
| 211. | Stan Belinda (12) | 585 | R |
| Billy Pierce (18) | 585 | L | |
| Jose Valverde (10, 34) | 585 | R | |
| 214. | Doug Bair (15) | 584 | R |
| Jim Brewer (17) | 584 | L | |
| 216. | Ugueth Urbina (11) | 583 | R |
| 217. | Mel Harder (20) | 582 | R |
| Doug Henry (11) | 582 | R | |
| Pedro Ramos (15) | 582 | R | |
| 220. | Paul Derringer (15) | 579 | R |
| 221. | Bobby Mathews (15) | 578 | R |
| Jack Powell (16) | 578 | R | |
| 223. | Scott Schoeneweis (12) | 577 | L |
| 224. | Bob Locker (10) | 576 | R |
| 225. | Terry Adams (11) | 574 | R |
| Stan Bahnsen (16) | 574 | R | |
| 227. | Luis Tiant (19) | 573 | R |
| 228. | Mudcat Grant (14) | 571 | R |
| 229. | Bob Feller+ (18) | 570 | R |
| Larry French (14) | 570 | L | |
| Damaso Marte (11) | 570 | L | |
| 232. | Curt Schilling (20) | 569 | R |
| Curt Simmons (20) | 569 | L | |
| 234. | Jay Howell (15) | 568 | R |
| Graeme Lloyd (10) | 568 | L | |
| 236. | Joe Beimel (11) | 567 | L |
| Tony Fossas (12) | 567 | L | |
| Matt Herges (11) | 567 | R | |
| 239. | Mike DeJean (10) | 565 | R |
| Ricardo Rincon (11, 42) | 565 | L | |
| Mickey Welch+ (13) | 565 | R | |
| 242. | Ted Power (13) | 564 | R |
| 243. | Mark Eichhorn (11) | 563 | R |
| Felix Rodriguez (11) | 563 | R | |
| Ray Sadecki (18) | 563 | L | |
| 246. | Ricky Bottalico (12) | 562 | R |
| 247. | Doyle Alexander (19) | 561 | R |
| Chad Bradford (12) | 561 | R | |
| Mike Henneman (10) | 561 | R | |
| 250. | Javier Lopez (10, 34) | 560 | L |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| B.J. Ryan (11) | 560 | L | |
| 252. | Bob Patterson (13) | 559 | L |
| 253. | Larry Jackson (14) | 558 | R |
| Jim Palmer+ (19) | 558 | R | |
| Scott Sullivan (10) | 558 | R | |
| 256. | Darren Holmes (13) | 557 | R |
| Scott Radinsky (11) | 557 | L | |
| Rick Reuschel (19) | 557 | R | |
| Jack Russell (15) | 557 | R | |
| 260. | Dan Spillner (12) | 556 | R |
| 261. | Jesse Haines+ (19) | 555 | R |
| Tony Mullane (13) | 555 | ||
| 263. | Jim Gott (14) | 554 | R |
| 264. | Jason Grimsley (15) | 552 | R |
| Turk Wendell (11) | 552 | R | |
| 266. | Firpo Marberry (14) | 551 | R |
| Phil Regan (13) | 551 | R | |
| 268. | Dolf Luque (20) | 550 | R |
| 269. | Jack Morris (18) | 549 | R |
| 270. | Heathcliff Slocumb (10) | 548 | R |
| 271. | Ryan Dempster (15, 35) | 547 | R |
| 272. | Tippy Martinez (14) | 546 | L |
| Matt Thornton (9, 35) | 546 | L | |
| 274. | John Hiller (15) | 545 | L |
| Al Hrabosky (13) | 545 | L | |
| Jamie Walker (10) | 545 | L | |
| 277. | Rudy Seanez (17) | 544 | R |
| Rube Walberg (15) | 544 | L | |
| 279. | Juan Agosto (13) | 543 | L |
| Tom Hume (11) | 543 | R | |
| Luis Vizcaino (11) | 543 | R | |
| 282. | Guy Bush (17) | 542 | R |
| Syl Johnson (19) | 542 | R | |
| 284. | Claude Osteen (18) | 541 | L |
| Jon Rauch (10, 33) | 541 | R | |
| Earl Whitehill (17) | 541 | L | |
| 287. | Gus Weyhing (14) | 540 | R |
| 288. | Hooks Dauss (15) | 538 | R |
| 289. | Mike Mussina (18) | 537 | R |
| Bobby Shantz (16) | 537 | L | |
| 291. | Rube Marquard+ (18) | 536 | L |
| 292. | Carl Hubbell+ (16) | 535 | L |
| Brandon Lyon (11, 32) | 535 | R | |
| Rudy May (16) | 535 | L | |
| 295. | Randy Moffitt (12) | 534 | R |
| 296. | Red Ames (17) | 533 | R |
| Danys Baez (10) | 533 | R | |
| Mark Wohlers (12) | 533 | R | |
| Tom Zachary (19) | 533 | L | |
| 300. | Ryan Franklin (12) | 532 | R |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| 301. | John Clarkson+ (12) | 531 | R |
| 302. | Camilo Pascual (18) | 529 | R |
| 303. | Jason Christiansen (11) | 528 | L |
| Bob Gibson+ (17) | 528 | R | |
| Bump Hadley (16) | 528 | R | |
| 306. | Bill Henry (16) | 527 | L |
| Old Hoss Radbourn+ (12) | 527 | R | |
| 308. | Mike Flanagan (18) | 526 | L |
| Joe Nuxhall (16) | 526 | L | |
| 310. | Jason Frasor (9, 34) | 525 | R |
| Mel Rojas (10) | 525 | R | |
| 312. | Chuck Finley (17) | 524 | L |
| Don Robinson (15) | 524 | R | |
| 314. | Dave Stewart (16) | 523 | R |
| 315. | Ken Forsch (16) | 521 | R |
| Dizzy Trout (15) | 521 | R | |
| 317. | Milt Pappas (17) | 520 | R |
| 318. | Gary Bell (12) | 519 | R |
| Dick Drago (13) | 519 | R | |
| Livan Hernandez (17, 37) | 519 | R | |
| 321. | Don Drysdale+ (14) | 518 | R |
| Danny Graves (11) | 518 | R | |
| Dale Murray (12) | 518 | R | |
| 324. | Wilbur Cooper (15) | 517 | L |
| Shigetoshi Hasegawa (9) | 517 | R | |
| Virgil Trucks (17) | 517 | R | |
| 327. | Joe Boever (12) | 516 | R |
| Frank Linzy (11) | 516 | R | |
| 329. | Frank DiPino (12) | 514 | L |
| Ron Mahay (15, 41) | 514 | L | |
| J.J. Putz (10, 35) | 514 | R | |
| Bill Sherdel (15) | 514 | L | |
| 333. | Freddie Fitzsimmons (19) | 513 | R |
| Clem Labine (13) | 513 | R | |
| George Uhle (17) | 513 | R | |
| Vic Willis+ (13) | 513 | R | |
| 337. | Shawn Camp (9, 36) | 512 | R |
| Jay Powell (11) | 512 | R | |
| 339. | Dave Burba (15) | 511 | R |
| Felix Heredia (10) | 511 | L | |
| 341. | Orel Hershiser (18) | 510 | R |
| 342. | Steve Farr (11) | 509 | R |
| Kevin Gregg (10, 34) | 509 | R | |
| Mike Trombley (11) | 509 | R | |
| 345. | Heath Bell (9, 34) | 508 | R |
| Harry Gumbert (15) | 508 | R | |
| 347. | John Grabow (9) | 506 | L |
| Bob Welch (17) | 506 | R | |
| Rick Wise (18) | 506 | R | |
| 350. | Billy Hoeft (15) | 505 | L |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Def. Games as P | Throws |
| 351. | Turk Lown (11) | 504 | R |
| Dan Schatzeder (15) | 504 | L | |
| 353. | Alejandro Pena (15) | 503 | R |
| 354. | Vida Blue (17) | 502 | L |
| Eddie Cicotte (14) | 502 | R | |
| 356. | Andy Pettitte (17, 40) | 501 | L |
| Chris Short (15) | 501 | L | |
| 358. | Catfish Hunter+ (15) | 500 | R |
| Eddie Rommel (13) | 500 | R | |
| 360. | Tim Burke (8) | 498 | R |
| Whitey Ford+ (16) | 498 | L | |
| Bob Forsch (16) | 498 | R | |
| 363. | Steve Howe (12) | 497 | L |
| Salomon Torres (12) | 497 | R | |
| 365. | Scott Downs (11, 36) | 496 | L |
| Jim Slaton (16) | 496 | R | |
| 367. | Jack Aker (11) | 495 | R |
| Luis Ayala (8, 34) | 495 | R | |
| Bobby Bolin (13) | 495 | R | |
| Dick Hall (19) | 495 | R | |
| Fernando Rodney (10, 35) | 495 | R | |
| 372. | Jesse Crain (9, 30) | 494 | R |
| Mike Torrez (18) | 494 | R | |
| 374. | Joe Hoerner (14) | 493 | L |
| Gene Nelson (13) | 493 | R | |
| 376. | Si Johnson (17) | 492 | R |
| Jim McCormick (10) | 492 | R | |
| 378. | Willis Hudlin (16) | 491 | R |
| Ryan Madson (9, 31) | 491 | R | |
| Jeff Parrett (10) | 491 | R | |
| Scot Shields (10) | 491 | R | |
| Ron Taylor (11) | 491 | R | |
| 383. | Juan Berenguer (15) | 490 | R |
| Carl Mays (15) | 490 | R | |
| Lee Meadows (15) | 490 | R | |
| 386. | Bullet Joe Bush (17) | 489 | R |
| 387. | Hal Newhouser+ (17) | 488 | L |
| Juan Pizarro (18) | 488 | L | |
| Bob Shawkey (15) | 488 | R | |
| 390. | George Mullin (14) | 487 | R |
| 391. | Kevin Brown (19) | 486 | R |
| 392. | Tim Stoddard (13) | 485 | R |
| 393. | Joe Coleman (15) | 484 | R |
| Ellis Kinder (12) | 484 | R | |
| Mike Magnante (12) | 484 | L | |
| Mike McCormick (16) | 484 | L | |
| Tom Niedenfuer (10) | 484 | R | |
| 398. | Vern Law (16) | 483 | R |
| Will Ohman (10, 34) | 483 | L | |
| 400. | Stan Williams (14) | 482 | R |
Note that seasons prior to 1876 are not included in single-season marks, but are included in career marks.