As with the MVP and Cy Young Awards, the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards will often feature familiar faces, as certain players’ reputations continue to shine. But sometimes, new names join the mix to stake a claim among the best defenders in the game.
That could happen again this season, as a mix of usual suspects and fresh faces have made compelling cases to take home hardware after the season. That’s reflected in a vote of MLB.com experts, who made picks for the players they think will win the honor this season. Here are the results.
All stats are through play on Sunday.
Kirk would become the sixth different AL catcher to win the award in as many years, but it’s not as if he hasn’t earned it. He remains an elite framer (98th percentile) and blocker (100th percentile), and has been worth a Fielding Run Value of plus-19, easily the top mark in the AL. Though Kirk’s pop time and throwing arm are each just a little above average, the rest of his defensive game makes for a high-level total package for a backstop.
Bailey has been the best defender in baseball by Fielding Run Value, at plus-29, which would also be one of the greatest defensive seasons tracked by Statcast (since 2015). That’s because he’s elite at just about everything. He’s the best at framing (100th percentile) and near the top in pop time and caught stealing above average (97th percentile in both), and is solid at blocking, too (78th percentile). Bailey is the king of Catcher Framing Runs, with 24 on the season — 10 more than anyone else.
France has never been known for his defense. In fact, in 2024, he ranked in the first percentile with -12 Outs Above Average; he had accumulated negative OAA in each of his first six seasons in the Majors. In Spring Training, France reiterated that he was proud of his defense and expected to show that this season. Sure enough, he’s delivered on his promise: His +10 OAA leads all first basemen, positioning himself to capture his first career Gold Glove.
This would be Olson’s third career Gold Glove, but his first in the NL and his first since 2019 as a member of the A’s. His plus-7 Fielding Run Value is tied with France for the best mark among MLB first basemen. Meanwhile, Olson’s 16 Defensive Runs Saved are easily the best mark among the group, as are his 133 assists — which double as a career high.
Giménez is the gold standard at second base: Since the start of the 2022 season, no one has more Outs Above Average (62), and he’s won three consecutive Gold Gloves. A fourth seems in order this fall. The 27-year-old has missed time with an ankle sprain and a quad strain this season, but he’s been his usual self when healthy, with 11 OAA slotting him in the 97th percentile.
Hoerner, a 2023 NL Gold Glove winner, has arguably become MLB’s pre-eminent defensive second baseman. His plus-12 Fielding Run value is the best mark among all second basemen, as are his 14 Outs Above Average and his 17 DRS. He paces the position with 233 putouts, too.
Kansas City had two players win a Gold Glove last season, and the same may very well happen this year. Garcia, who is having a breakout season with the bat, is equally adept with his glove. He leads AL third basemen with a plus-11 Fielding Run Value and 14 Outs Above Average. Paired with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (more on him soon), Garcia is a keystone of one of the game’s best left sides of the infield.
As with some other names on this list, Hayes has emerged as the definitive standout at his position. The 2023 Gold Glove winner is far and away the third-base leader in DRS, with 19, and in Fielding Run Value, at plus-16. Meanwhile, his 20 Outs Above Average are well ahead of all other MLB players at the hot corner. He also leads all MLB third basemen with 276 assists.
Witt looks primed to win his second straight Gold Glove, as he leads all players with 23 Outs Above Average — surpassing his OAA (16) from 2024. As things stand, Witt is on pace to post the highest single-season OAA from any player since Jonathan Schoop (27 OAA) in 2022. Plus, only Patrick Bailey and Pete Crow-Armstrong have a higher Fielding Run Value than Witt’s +19.
Winn has some of the surest hands at shortstop. He’s made just three errors all season, which is the fewest among players with at least 400 chances at the position. Meanwhile, his 22 Outs Above Average ranks as the top mark among NL shortstops and the second-best mark among all shortstops. Not to mention, his plus-17 Fielding Run Value is also tops among his peers in the Senior Circuit.
Kwan is hoping to become the first Cleveland player to win four straight Gold Gloves since Omar Vizquel won eight straight from 1994-2001. And he’s in a pretty good position to do so. Kwan has posted a plus-9 Fielding Run Value — leading all left fielders — and he’s consistently made opposing baserunners look foolish, with an MLB-best 12 outfield assists.
Collins, who’s still in the hunt for NL Rookie of the Year, leads all NL left fielders with five Outs Above Average, while his plus-3 Fielding Run Value also leads the way. A Gold Glove win for Collins would give the Brewers two straight outfield winners, as Sal Frelick won in right field last season. He would also join a growing list of rookies to win a Gold Glove.
Rafaela has split time between second base and center field, but injuries to Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony have shifted the 24-year-old back to center on a full-time basis. That’s good news for the Red Sox, because he’s elite in the outfield. He’s been worth +19 Outs Above Average, tied with Pete Crow-Armstrong for the most among outfielders. Much of his value derives from his excellent jumps, as his average jump is 5.2 feet better than average.
Crow-Armstrong has a habit of making the seemingly impossible look routine, hauling in outs that would fall for hits in front of most other outfielders. He’s converted 14 five-star plays, six more than the next closest outfielder, compiling one of the best defensive seasons that Stacast has on record. His plus-20 Fielding Run Value is the best among all outfielders, while his 19 Outs Above Average are tied for most among the group.
Seeking his second straight Gold Glove, Abreu touts an elite combination of range and arm strength. Abreu has made more five-star catches (eight) than anyone not named Pete Crow-Armstrong, an impressive accomplishment for a corner outfielder. Not to mention, his average arm strength is 94.3 mph, good for the 98th percentile. Should Abreu and Rafaela each win a Gold Glove, they would become the first pair of Red Sox outfielders to win Gold Gloves in the same season since Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2018.
Tatis remains an elite outfielder in terms of both range and arm strength, and, bottom line, he makes plays. Tatis leads all MLB right fielders with 334 putouts, 64 more than the next-highest total. He also leads with 18 DRS, has a right-field-best plus-9 Fielding Run Value and is tied for the lead for double plays turned in right field, with three. He also has a serious homer-robbing habit that causes fits for the opposition.
Dubón is the epitome of versatility, having started at every position but catcher and pitcher this season. Beyond that, it’s not a stretch to call him one of the game’s best fielders: His plus-16 Fielding Run Value and 17 Outs Above Average are each in the 98th percentile or better of MLB. He’s been worth zero or positive OAA or better at all seven positions that he’s played, too.
Lopez has been mostly a shortstop this season (95 starts), but he’s also spent significant time at second base (32 games). And he’s gotten it done in both spots. His six DRS as a second baseman rank sixth in the NL, despite his part-time role, while his six at shortstop are the fourth-best total in the league. Combined, Lopez’s 12 DRS are tied for the seventh-highest mark among all MLB infielders.
Having won three Gold Gloves as a member of the Braves (2020-22), Fried would become the fourth pitcher to win the award in both leagues after Mark Buehrle, Jim Kaat and Bobby Shantz. His crafty pickoff move continues to successfully catch runners off guard, as he led all AL pitchers with seven pickoffs entering play Monday. He makes plays, too, so it’s no surprise that Fried led all MLB pitchers with nine Defensive Runs Saved through Sunday.
Webb’s six DRS are tied for the most among NL pitchers. It makes sense, too, given some of his more traditional stats. He leads NL pitchers with 31 assists and has turned three double plays, the most of any MLB pitcher. He would be the fourth NL pitcher to win the award in as many years, after a long stretch that was mostly dominated by Fried and Zack Greinke. Webb would also be the first Giants pitcher to win a Gold Glove since Rick Reuschel in 1987, and just the second ever.
