Major League Baseball announced the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists on Wednesday, highlighting standout defensive seasons across both leagues. The Chicago Cubs led all major league clubs with five nominees, while the winners are scheduled to be unveiled on ESPN on November 1.
Chicago Cubs Lead Major League Baseball with Five Gold Glove Finalists
The Chicago Cubs finished the regular season with a league-high Fielding Run Value of 73 according to Baseball Savant, outpacing the second-place Toronto Blue Jays, who finished at 46. That defensive dominance translated into five finalists announced by Major League Baseball on Wednesday.
the gold glove defense on full display. ✨ pic.twitter.com/TkSYpwhJf4
— https://x.com/Cubs/status/2096338349027897669
The club’s list of nominees spans the diamond. Alex Bregman is nominated at third base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, Ian Happ in left field, Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field, and Seiya Suzuki in right field. Crow-Armstrong enters the final voting as a heavy favorite after a dominant defensive campaign that included a major league-best 26 Outs Above Average.
Despite the historic defensive output, the Cubs also saw a notable omission. Second baseman Nico Hoerner was left off the top three list for his position, with Brandon Lowe, Brice Turang, and JJ Wetherholt earning the National League finalist nods instead.
American League Standouts and Kansas City Infield Representation
In the American League, the Kansas City Royals placed all four members of their starting infield on the finalist ballot. Vinnie Pasquantino at first base, Michael Massey at second base, Nick Loftin at third base, and two-time winner Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop all made the cut alongside their club peers.
Bobby Witt Jr., who captured the American League Platinum Glove award in 2025 as the league’s top overall defender, led all AL shortstops with 24 Outs Above Average and 71 double plays.
Among other notable American League contenders, Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees led all left fielders with 21 Defensive Runs Saved and is joined by teammates Austin Wells at catcher and José Caballero at the utility position. The New York team relied heavily on Bellinger in left field while also deploying him across center field, right field, and first base, whereas Caballero appeared at six distinct defensive locations during the regular season.
Minnesota Twins infielder Brooks Lee shifted from shortstop after his first 45 games of the season to settle in at third base, earning an American League finalist nod at the hot corner. Meanwhile, Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler and utility specialist Zach McKinstry also represented Detroit among the league’s finalists.
National League Contenders and Atlanta Braves Finalists
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves placed four players on the finalist list, featuring Matt Olson at first base, Chris Sale as a pitcher, Michael Harris II in center field, and Mauricio Dubón at the utility spot. Olson played in all 162 games for Atlanta, logging the most innings among major league first basemen and recording a .994 fielding percentage with 12 Outs Above Average.
Harris secured his first finalist appearance after posting career highs with 14 Outs Above Average and 12 in fielding run value. Dubón, who joined the Braves last offseason via a trade with the Houston Astros for shortstop Nick Allen, is pursuing his first career utility Gold Glove award.
San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France returns as a finalist alongside Colorado’s T.J. Rumfield and Atlanta’s Matt Olson. Rumfield. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, catcher Gabriel Moreno, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo also secured National League finalist recognition for their respective clubs.
| Player | Team | Position | Key Defensive Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | Chicago Cubs | Center Field | 26 Outs Above Average |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Kansas City Royals | Shortstop | 24 Outs Above Average |
| Matt Olson | Atlanta Braves | First Base | 12 Fielding Run Value |
| Cody Bellinger | New York Yankees | Left Field | 21 Defensive Runs Saved |
Voting Process and the November Award Announcement Schedule
The selection process for the traditional nine defensive positions relies on votes from 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches per team, who are prohibited from voting for players from their own organization. These ballots account for 75 percent of the total score, with the SABR Defensive Index determining the remaining 25 percent.
For the utility position, which Rawlings introduced in 2022, a specialized defensive formula developed in collaboration with SABR evaluates players who split time across multiple areas. Finalists at the utility spot include Zach McKinstry of the Detroit Tigers, Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers, José Caballero of the New York Yankees, Mauricio Dubón of the Atlanta Braves, Jared Triolo of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Ildemaro Vargas of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The winner announcements will air live on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1.
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