Major League Baseball Announces 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Winners
Major League Baseball announced the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners, recognizing the top defensive performers across both leagues based on a combination of manager and coach voting and statistical metrics. The selection process weighed 75 percent on votes from all 30 managers and up to six coaches per team, while SABR’s Defensive Index metrics determined the remaining 25 percent.
The Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks led all major league franchises with three Gold Glove winners each. Boston’s honorees included right fielder Wilyer Abreu for the third consecutive year, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela for his second straight season, and third baseman Caleb Durbin. Arizona matched that total in the National League, highlighted by catcher Gabriel Moreno claiming his second career honor and first-time winners Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop and Corbin Carroll in right field.
National League Fielding Honorees and Historic Feats
National League winners featured several repeat honorees alongside standout first-time recipients. First baseman Matt Olson captured his fourth career Gold Glove. Gabriel Moreno’s selection made him the second catcher to win a Gold Glove and a batting title in the same season, joining Joe Mauer, who accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009.
The 2026 National League @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Finalists 🤩Winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1st on @ESPN https://t.co/4pZrkX2AXv pic.twitter.com/9IAyBWqqIE
National League winners included Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang, Milwaukee left fielder Jackson Chourio, Atlanta utility man Mauricio Dubón, and New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean.
American League Defend Excellence and Statistical Metrics
The American League awards highlighted emerging defensive stars alongside established veterans. Seattle second baseman Cole Young, Tampa Bay shortstop Taylor Walls, and Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee each secured their first career Gold Gloves. Other American League winners included Houston first baseman Christian Walker, Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler, New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger, and Texas utility winner Ezequiel Duran.
Statcast’s Fielding Runs Value metric for the 2026 season showed Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong posted a +26 FRV, marking the fifth-best single-season defensive mark since the metric launched in 2016. Voting rules prohibited team employees from casting ballots for players on their own clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Fielding Honors
How is the utility Gold Glove determined?
Unlike standard position awards determined by manager and coach voting paired with SABR metrics, the utility Gold Glove is decided through a separate defensive formula calculated jointly by SABR and Rawlings.
Did postseason performance affect the voting results?
Postseason performance had no impact on the outcome. Voting concluded before the awards announcement, and the announced finalists simply represented the top three vote-getters at each position.
What financial bonuses accompanied the awards?
Several players earned contractual bonuses for their defensive excellence. Christian Walker received a $75,000 bonus, Tanner Bibee earned $50,000, and Brice Turang collected $25,000.
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