Which Players Participated In The Most Runs in 2015?

Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson participated in more runs than any other player in 2015
(Photo credit: Ben Margot, Associated Press)

In my previous post, I discussed the Runs Assisted statistic which rewards players who contribute to runs scored for their team without actually scoring or driving in a run.  To review, there are two broad scenarios in which a player can get credit for a Run Assisted:

• A batter advances a runner to either second or third with a hit, base on balls, hit batsmen, error, sacrifice bunt, or another kind of out.  If that runner then scores either during the same at bat or an ensuing at bat, the batter who advanced him is given a Run Assisted.

• A batter reaches base and is removed for a pinch runner or is replaced by another runner on a force out.  If the new runner then scores, the batter who originally reached base is given a Run Assisted.

The addition of Runs Assisted statistic allows us to expand the Runs Participated In (RPI) measure.  The current RPI definition is the number of runs to which a player made a direct contribution.  It is calculated by adding runs scored and RBI and then subtracting home runs:

   RPI = RS + RBI - HR

RPI was first introduced as Runs Produced in the 1950s by Sports Illustrated writer Bob Creamer but was more recently renamed RPI by Tom Tango.  If  Tigers scecond baseman Ian Kinsler doubles and then scores on a single by first baseman Miguel Cabrera, neither player actually produces the run by himself.  Both participate in creating the run but neither is 100% responsible for producing the run.  Thus, the name “runs participated in” is more appropriate than "runs produced".  Home runs are subtracted in the RPI formula, so that a player does not get credit for two runs (an RBI and a run scored) when he only participated in one team run. 

Adding Runs Assisted to the RPI formula yields:

   RPI = RS + RBI + RAS - HR 

One might question whether a Run Assisted should count as much as a run scored or an RBI since it is more likely to also produce an out.  I would guess that a player getting an assist typically contributes less to the run than a player with a run scored or RBI, (although the example shown at the top of the previous post shows that is not always the case).  More complicated statistics involving linear weights are better for answering that question.  By definition, runs scored, RBI and Runs Assisted will count the same in the Runs Participated In measure..

Also, remember that RPI does not address the biases of runs scored and RBI (and RAS for that matter).  It is still the case that some players have more opportunities to contribute to runs based on their teammates and batting order position.  RPI is not a replacement for something like Batting Runs, but rather a simple alternative for those that prefer to look at actual runs scored.   

Keeping the above caveats in mind, the American League RPI Leaders are listed in Table 1 below.  AL MVP winner Josh Donaldson led the league with 261 RPI. followed by Blue Jay teammate Jose Bautista (237) and Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (226).  

The National League leaders, shown in Table 2, were MVP Bryce Harper (241), Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo (228) and Diamond Backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (227).  

Finally, Table 3 lists the Tigers RPI leaders.  Kinsler and right fielder JD Martinez each had 200 followed by slugger Miguel Cabrera with 169. 

Table 1: AL Runs Participated In Leaders, 2015

Player	Team	PA	R	RBI	RAS	HR	RPI
Josh Donaldson	TOR	711	122	123	57	41	261
Jose Bautista	TOR	666	108	114	55	40	237
Eric Hosmer	KCA	667	98	93	53	18	226
Shin-Soo Choo	TEX	653	94	82	65	22	219
Kendrys Morales	KCA	639	81	106	54	22	219
Prince Fielder	TEX	693	78	98	63	23	216
Chris Davis	BAL	670	100	117	44	47	214
Xander Bogaerts	BOS	654	84	81	55	7	213
Edwin Encarnacion	TOR	624	94	111	43	39	209
Jose Abreu	CHA	668	88	101	48	30	207
Lorenzo Cain	KCA	604	101	72	48	16	205
Ian Kinsler	DET	675	94	73	44	11	200
J.D. Martinez	DET	657	93	102	43	38	200
Adrian Beltre	TEX	619	83	83	51	18	199
Alex Rodriguez	NYA	620	83	86	61	33	197

Data source:Retrosheet

Table 2: NL Runs Participated In Leaders, 2015

Player	Team	PA	R	RBI	RAS	HR	RPI
Bryce Harper	WAS	654	118	99	66	42	241
Anthony Rizzo	CHN	701	94	101	64	31	228
Paul Goldschmidt	ARI	695	103	110	47	33	227
Andrew McCutchen	PIT	685	91	96	56	23	220
Nolan Arenado	COL	665	97	130	34	42	219
A.J. Pollock	ARI	673	111	76	47	20	214
Matt Kemp	SDN	648	80	100	48	23	205
Kris Bryant	CHN	650	87	99	45	26	205
Matt Duffy	SFN	612	77	77	61	12	203
Joey Votto	CIN	695	95	80	52	29	198
Buster Posey	SFN	623	74	95	48	19	198
Starling Marte	PIT	633	84	81	50	19	196
Curtis Granderson	NYN	682	98	70	44	26	186
Matt Carpenter	SLN	665	101	84	28	28	185
Carlos Gonzalez	COL	608	87	97	40	40	184

Data source:Retrosheet

Table 3: Tigers Runs Participated In Leaders, 2015

Player	PA	R	RBI	RAS	HR	RPI
Ian Kinsler	675	94	73	44	11	200
J.D. Martinez	657	93	102	43	38	200
Miguel Cabrera	511	64	76	47	18	169
Nick Castellanos	595	42	73	35	15	135
Yoenis Cespedes	427	62	61	27	18	132
Victor Martinez	485	39	64	33	11	125
Anthony Gose	535	73	26	27	5	121
Rajai Davis	370	55	30	21	8	98
Jose Iglesias	453	44	23	29	2	94
James McCann	425	32	41	21	7	87
Andrew Romine	204	25	15	20	2	58
Tyler Collins	207	18	25	19	4	58
Alex Avila	219	21	13	12	4	42
Jefry Marte	90	9	11	4	4	20
Dixon Machado	78	6	5	4	0	15

Data source:Retrosheet