The Bucs have a few players who are the best in the league at something. Paul Skenes had arguably the best SP rookie season in the modern area. Oneil Cruz is known for having some of the best bat speed. He actually had the highest average bat speed for a LHH. Ke'Bryan Hayes was on a run of his own, and hopefully he can get back on track this year.
In the article, Will Termarr Johnson's Compact Speed and High Bat Speed Bring Him Success? we described how Termarr Johnson has a unique physical frame and bat speed combination. As Termarr Johnson is still just projection, Hayes had unique results on the field up until last year.
There is an interesting video on the Good Vibes Baseball YouTube channel, What If...? We Are Witnessing Actual HISTORY | A Baseball Numbers Story. Please check it out for more information on Hayes!
When you think of historical fielding third baseman you might think of Books Robinson aka the Human Vacuum Cleaner, Adrian Beltré, Scott Rolen, or Nolan Arenado? I didn't know Hayes is on pace to belong on this list until I saw the YouTube video.
The video argues Hayes is arguably on a stronger pace at the beginning of his career than anyone on that list. The article uses Fielding %, Total Zone Runs, rField (DRS), Defense bWAR, DRS, UZR, DEF, OAA, and Runs Prevented.
Through the 2023 season Hayes had 374 games at 3B, 22 errors, .980 fielding percentage, 65 Rdrs, 34 Total Zone Runs, and 7.7 dWAR. Hayes's 34 Total Zone Runs is close to what Brooks Robinson had at the same point of his carrer which is 37. Matt Chapman started his carrer with 41 Total Zone Runs. Robinson's Total Zone Runs career mark is 293. That will be difficult to reach, but Hayes seems like he can get close. Hayes 65 Rdrs is on pace to smoke Robinson's Rdrs lead(Baseball Reference Defensive Runs Saved). There are 29 3B who have more Rdrs than Hayes, but only Chapman had a better start than Hayes. Chapman could not keep it up. Coming to dWAR, again only Matt Chapman is the only 3B to put up a higher number than Hayes through the same number of seasons. If Hayes keeps up his pace for as long as Brooks Robinson played he will have over 50 dWAR. The highest dWAR alltime for any position is SS Ozzy Smith at 44.2 dWAR.
Looking at the Fangraphs metrics: DRS, UZR, and DEF we don't have those stats before the 2000s. Hayes has 65 DRS. Beltre has the record at 200 DRS. At his current pace Hayes is on pace for over 400 if he plays the same number of games at 3B as Beltre. Fangraphs also has their Defense stat (DEF). It combines the value relative top positional average (fielding runs) and positional value relative to other positions (positional adjustment), so you can compare players from different positions. If Hayes keeps up his pace for 2800 games he would rank second all time behind Yadier Molina.
Checking Baseball Savant's metrics which does not have data before 2016 we can look at OOA and Runs Prevented. Through 2023 Hayes had 50 OAA and 38 Runs prevented. Arrenado leads both categories for 3B while Chapman is second in both metrics and Hayes is third. But Chapman and especially Arrenado are much older than Hayes and their best fielding days are behind them. Arrenado started playing before 2016 which was some of his best fielding years. If Hayes keeps the pace for as long Arrenado has played he would lead all positions in those categories.
Hayes's health this year will be a large determinate if Hayes can reach these heights.