In baseball, an assist (denoted by A) is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is credited to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball (after it has been hit by the batter) prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional. For example, if a ball strikes a player's leg and bounces off him to another fielder, who tags the baserunner, the first player is credited with an assist. A fielder can receive a maximum of one assist per out recorded. An assist is also credited if a putout would have occurred, had another fielder not committed an error. For example, a shortstop might field a ground ball cleanly, but the first baseman might drop his throw. In this case, an error would be charged to the first baseman, and the shortstop would be credited with an assist.
Rabbit Maranville is the all-time leader with 8,967 career assists. Ozzie Smith (8,375), Cal Ripken Jr. (8,214), Bill Dahlen (8,138), Omar Vizquel (8,050), and Luis Aparicio (8,016) are the only other players to record more than 8,000 career assists.
Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career assists. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2026 As) Number of recorded assists during the 2026 Major League Baseball season. A Total career assists.*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame. BoldDenotes active player.A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.
List
Stats updated as of September 25, 2026.
RankPlayer (2026 As)A1Rabbit Maranville*8,9672Ozzie Smith*8,3753Cal Ripken Jr.*8,2144Bill Dahlen8,1385Omar Vizquel8,0506Luis Aparicio*8,0167Eddie Collins*7,7168Luke Appling*7,5439Tommy Corcoran7,50910Bobby Wallace*7,46511Frankie Frisch*7,17012Charlie Gehringer*7,09113Dave Concepción7,02414Joe Morgan*6,96915Bid McPhee*6,92316Larry Bowa6,86417Rogers Hornsby*6,84218Honus Wagner*6,78219Bill Mazeroski*6,69420Nap Lajoie*6,69121Lou Whitaker6,65322Ryne Sandberg*6,64823Frank White6,62924Derek Jeter*6,60525Dave Bancroft*6,60426Roberto Alomar*6,53627Don Kessinger6,45328George Davis*6,42929Nellie Fox*6,38530Dick Bartell6,34831Willie Randolph6,33932Roger Peckinpaugh6,33833Herman Long6,33534Bert Campaneris6,32335Germany Smith6,30436Donie Bush6,28637Alan Trammell*6,26538Chris Speier6,25939Roy McMillan6,23340Brooks Robinson*6,22041Miguel Tejada6,19342Jimmy Rollins6,13943Pee Wee Reese*6,13144Garry Templeton6,07845Joe Cronin*6,05246Jack Glasscock5,951Joe Tinker*5,95148Jeff Kent*5,91849Royce Clayton5,90450Bobby Grich5,891 RankPlayer (2026 As)A51Robinson Canó5,88152Dick Groat5,864Barry Larkin*5,86454Mark Belanger5,83155Billy Herman*5,82356Bill Russell5,71357Bobby Doerr*5,71058Édgar Rentería5,70659Alex Rodriguez5,68160Craig Biggio*5,67161Jay Bell5,60962Mickey Doolan5,58563Tony Fernández5,54464Fred Pfeffer5,53065Maury Wills5,51266Ed Brinkman5,50067Red Schoendienst*5,46668Billy Jurges5,44669Orlando Cabrera5,44570Leo Cárdenas5,42971Elvis Andrus5,41972Monte Cross5,37873Ozzie Guillén5,37574Kid Gleason5,32475George McBride5,31676Alfredo Griffin5,30977Graig Nettles5,29578Art Fletcher5,25479Del Pratt5,23880Joe Sewell*5,23081Ian Kinsler5,21982Johnny Evers*5,21583Mike Schmidt*5,19384Adrián Beltré*5,18785Travis Jackson*5,17886Buddy Myer5,15287Hughie Critz5,14588Jimmy Dykes5,13989Arky Vaughan*5,11990Tim Foli5,10891Everett Scott5,06092John Montgomery Ward*5,05093Buddy Bell5,00994Mark Grudzielanek4,97595Brandon Phillips4,97196Toby Harrah4,96597Claude Ritchey4,95898Ed McKean4,94599Tony Lazzeri*4,944100Jim Gantner4,942
By position Pitchers
The pitcher is the player who pitches the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, playing the most difficult and specialized position, and as such is regarded as being at the right end of the defensive spectrum. Pitchers play far less than players at other positions, generally appearing in only two or three games per week; only one pitcher in major league history has appeared in 100 games in a single season. There are many different types of pitchers, generally divided between starting pitchers and relief pitchers, which include the middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and closer. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1.
Pitchers are most commonly credited with an assist when they field a ground ball batted back toward the mound and throw the ball either to the first baseman to retire the batter/runner or to another infielder to force out a runner, perhaps beginning a double play; of special importance are throws to the catcher if a runner is trying to reach home plate to score a run. Pitchers also earn assists on pickoff throws, by throwing to a base after catching a line drive in order to retire a runner before they can tag up, by throwing to a base to record an out on an appeal play, or in situations where they might deflect a ground ball before another defensive player successfully fields the ball. Pitchers generally record fewer assists than infielders or catchers due to the quick reaction time needed to field the ball after it is hit, as the pitcher is the closest player in front of the batter.
As strikeout totals have risen in baseball, the frequency of other defensive outs including ground outs has declined; as a result, assist totals for pitchers have likewise declined, and only one of the top 20 career leaders has been active since 1934; only five of the top 66 have been active since 1965. None of the top 87 single-season totals were recorded after 1918, and none of the top 477 have been recorded since 1944. Cy Young is the all-time leader in career assists as a pitcher with 2,014, over 500 more than any other pitcher.
Stats updated as of April 3, 2026. RankPlayer (2026 As)ThrowsAssists as a pitcherOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Cy Young*R2,0148511,1632Christy Mathewson*R1,50301,503Holds the modern National League single-season record of 141 (set in 1908)3Grover Cleveland Alexander*R1,41901,4194Pud Galvin*R1,40401,205Includes 106 in American Association, 71 in Players' League, 22 in National Association; held major league record, 1886-1903; held the National League single-season record, 1884-18855Walter Johnson*R1,3511,35106Burleigh Grimes*R1,25271,2457George MullinR1,2441,1940Includes 50 in Federal League8Jack QuinnR1,24097167Includes 202 in Federal League9Ed Walsh*R1,2071,2007Holds the single-season record of 227 (set in 1907)10Eppa Rixey*L1,19501,19511Greg Maddux*R1,19401,19412John Clarkson*R1,14301,143Holds the National League single-season record of 174 (set in 1885)13Carl MaysR1,13882331514Hooks DaussR1,1281,128015Vic Willis*R1,12401,12416Red Faber*R1,1081,1080Eddie Plank*L1,1081,0500Includes 58 in Federal League; held record for left-handed pitchers, 1914-193118Tim Keefe*R1,0600764Includes 235 in American Association, 61 in Players' League19Tony MullaneR1,0410343Includes 698 in American Association20Kid Nichols*R1,03101,03121Tommy JohnL1,02875827022Red AmesR1,00001,00023Warren Spahn*L999099924Eddie CicotteR998998025Jack PowellR96764032726Doc WhiteL96681115527Harry HowellR96587689Held the American League single-season record, 1905-190728Al OrthR95758836929Ted Lyons*R943943030Freddie FitzsimmonsR9420942Charles Radbourn*R9420843Includes 99 in Players' League32Chick FraserR9399184833Bill DoakR934093434Joe McGinnity*R929153776Held the modern National League single-season record, 1904-190635Jim McCormickR9220872Includes 50 in Union Association36Red DonahueR903445458Held the American League single-season record, 1902-190437Tommy BondR8960607Includes 229 in National Association, 55 in Union Association, 5 in American Association; held major league record, 1879-1886; held the single-season record, 1878-1882; held the National League single-season record, 1878-188438Phil Niekro*R87810577339Gaylord Perry*R87735352440Sad Sam JonesR8748740Amos Rusie*R874087442Clark Griffith*R863265548Includes 50 in American Association43Tom Glavine*L856085644Howard EhmkeR8538280Includes 25 in Federal League45Charlie BuffintonR8510657Includes 117 in American Association, 77 in Players' LeagueStan Coveleski*R851851047Lee MeadowsR850085048Addie Joss*R846846049Mordecai Brown*R8430700Includes 143 in Federal League50Waite Hoyt*R84264020251Jesse TannehillL84043041052Bullet Joe BushR8398142553Jack Chesbro*R836649187Held the American League single-season record, 1904-190554Carl Hubbell*L8240824Herb Pennock*L824824056Ed ReulbachR8140724Includes 90 in Federal League57Eddie RommelR810810058Charles Bender*R80870261Includes 45 in Federal League59Bill DinneenR80051328760Bobby MathewsR7910187Includes 339 in National Association, 265 in American Association61Dolf LuqueR786078662Wilbur CooperL785478163Frank SmithR78260669Includes 107 in Federal League64Tom ZacharyL77354722665Brickyard KennedyR7690769Jim WhitneyR7690761Includes 8 in American Association67Dennis MartínezR76343832568Willie SudhoffR76239936369Art NehfL749074970Jesse BarnesR748074871Bucky WaltersR746074672Gus WeyhingR7453365Includes 322 in American Association, 55 in Players' League73Jim Kaat*L74464110374Kenny RogersL7437241975Hippo VaughnL740169571Rube Waddell*L74060713377Jack TaylorR738073878Mel HarderR7347340Willis HudlinR734732280Cy FalkenbergR72852321Includes 184 in Federal League81Steve Carlton*L72431693Claude HendrixR7240518Includes 206 in Federal League83Lefty Grove*L7227220Adonis TerryR7220350Includes 372 in American Association85Dutch LeonardR71941730286Will WhiteR7150274Includes 441 in American Association; held the single-season record, 1882-190787Bob Lemon*R709709088Mickey Welch*R705070589Earl WhitehillL7016871490Claude OsteenL69915554491Rube Marquard*L6970697Bob ShawkeyR697697093Ed WillettR6956020Includes 93 in Federal League94Theodore BreitensteinL6920690Includes 2 in American AssociationTom Seaver*R6929959396Pink HawleyR6885563397Don Drysdale*R6860686Sherry SmithL68625543199Bob GroomR6825450Includes 137 in Federal League100Rube BentonL6800680
Catchers
The catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his/her turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to these primary duties, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the catcher is assigned the number 2.