List of Major League Baseball annual assists leaders

The list also includes several professional leagues and associations that were never part of MLB.

An assist is credited to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball (after it has been hit by the batter) before the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional.

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.