2026 Gold Glove Nominees: Full List by Position

The 2026 Gold Glove nominees are the best defenders in Major League Baseball, picked using a mix of advanced stats and votes from managers and coaches. Every position in both leagues has three finalists, and below I'm breaking down who's on the ballot and why, plus what it all means if you're the one who has to keep a glove game-ready.

I've been in the glove business since 2009, doing custom gloves and repair work, and I was fixing gloves for teammates and friends long before that. So when Gold Glove season rolls around, I'm watching the hands as much as the highlights.

Who Are the 2026 Gold Glove Nominees?

Quick answer: The 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists are three players per position in each league, covering pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, right field, and utility. Finalists are chosen by blending defensive metrics like Outs Above Average, Defensive Runs Saved, and Fielding Run Value with votes from managers and coaches.

Here's the full list:

Pitcher: AL: Tanner Bibee, Jacob deGrom, José Soriano. NL: Michael McGreevy, Nolan McLean, Chris Sale.
Catcher: AL: Dillon Dingler, Brandon Valenzuela, Austin Wells. NL: Freddy Fermin, Gabriel Moreno, Luis Torrens.
First base: AL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Christian Walker. NL: Ty France, Matt Olson, TJ Rumfield.
Second base: AL: Michael Massey, Chase Meidroth, Cole Young. NL: Brandon Lowe, Brice Turang, JJ Wetherholt.
Third base: AL: Caleb Durbin, Brooks Lee, Nick Loftin. NL: Alex Bregman, Max Muncy, Javier Sanoja.
Shortstop: AL: Andrés Giménez, Taylor Walls, Bobby Witt Jr. NL: Geraldo Perdomo, Dansby Swanson, Masyn Winn.
Left field: AL: Cody Bellinger, Wyatt Langford, Chandler Simpson. NL: Jackson Chourio, Ian Happ, Daylen Lile.
Center field: AL: Evan Carter, Steven Kwan, Ceddanne Rafaela. NL: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Harris II, Andy Pages.
Right field: AL: Wilyer Abreu, Nathan Lukes, Cam Smith. NL: Carson Benge, Corbin Carroll, Seiya Suzuki.
Utility: AL: José Caballero, Ezequiel Duran, Zach McKinstry. NL: Mauricio Dubón, Jared Triolo, Ildemaro Vargas.

How Gold Glove Finalists Get Picked

Gold Glove finalists come from two places: the numbers and the people who see these guys every day. The numbers include Outs Above Average (OAA), Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), and Statcast's Fielding Run Value. The votes come from managers and coaches.

Neither one tells the whole story alone. A stat can miss a guy's footwork, and a vote can lean on reputation. Put them together and you get a pretty honest picture of who's actually making plays.

Pitcher: Quick Hands on the Mound

Pitchers don't get much credit for defense, but bunts, comebackers, and controlling the running game all count.

In the American League, Tanner Bibee of the Guardians led AL pitchers with +6 OAA and +5 DRS. Jacob deGrom of the Rangers is back for his second straight finalist nod, and José Soriano (Angels/Blue Jays) was praised for covering first and handling short bunts.

In the National League, Michael McGreevy of the Cardinals tied for the MLB lead among pitchers with +5 DRS. Nolan McLean of the Mets put up +4 DRS, and Chris Sale of the Braves posted +3 DRS while chasing his second career Gold Glove.

Catcher: The Toughest Glove on the Field

Catchers get judged on framing, blocking, pop time, and throwing accuracy. It's a lot to ask from one mitt.

Dillon Dingler of the Tigers won in 2025 and paced all MLB catchers with a +17 Fielding Run Value, ranking in the 90th percentile or higher in framing, blocking, and pop time. Brandon Valenzuela (Blue Jays) and Austin Wells (Yankees) round out the AL.

In the NL, Freddy Fermin (Padres), Gabriel Moreno (Diamondbacks), and Luis Torrens (Mets) are the finalists. Torrens is known for turning borderline pitches into strikes, and Moreno has a fast arm that keeps runners honest.

First Base: More Than Just a Big Target

A good first baseman picks short hops and scoops bad throws, which saves his infielders a ton of errors.

In the AL, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays, 2022 winner), Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals), and Christian Walker (Astros) are up. In the NL, Ty France of the Padres led all MLB first basemen with +15 DRS. Matt Olson (Braves), already a three-time winner, led NL first basemen in Fielding Run Value, and TJ Rumfield (Rockies) added +6 DRS.

Second Base: Range and Clean Turns

Michael Massey of the Royals posted +11 OAA, and Chase Meidroth of the White Sox led the AL field with +10 Fielding Run Value. Cole Young (Mariners) completes the AL group.

In the NL, rookie JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) logged +25 OAA, the third-highest total among all MLB players at any position. Brandon Lowe (Pirates) added +15 OAA, and Brice Turang (Brewers) returns with quick feet and fast double-play turns.

Third Base: The Hot Corner

AL finalists are Caleb Durbin (Red Sox), Brooks Lee (Twins), and Nick Loftin (Royals). NL finalists are Alex Bregman (Cubs), who finished second at the position in the NL with +9 OAA, Max Muncy (Dodgers), who had his best Fielding Run Value since 2021, and Javier Sanoja (Marlins).

Shortstop: Where the Range Lives

Andrés Giménez of the Blue Jays won three straight Gold Gloves at second base (2022 to 2024), moved to short, and led AL shortstops with +19 OAA. Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) and Taylor Walls (Rays) join him.

In the NL, Geraldo Perdomo (Diamondbacks) earned his first finalist nod with +13 Fielding Run Value and +16 OAA. Masyn Winn (Cardinals) has one of the strongest arms in baseball, and Dansby Swanson (Cubs) is a former winner.

Outfield: Left, Center, and Right

In left, Cody Bellinger (Yankees) posted the highest DRS among AL left fielders, with Chandler Simpson (Rays, +8 OAA) and Wyatt Langford (Rangers, +5 OAA) alongside him. In the NL, Jackson Chourio (Brewers) led NL left fielders in Fielding Run Value (+9) and OAA (+7), with Ian Happ (Cubs) chasing his fifth straight Gold Glove and Daylen Lile (Nationals) rounding it out.

In center, Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs had one of the best defensive outfield seasons in modern MLB history, leading all of baseball with +23 DRS, +26 Fielding Run Value, and +26 OAA. In the AL, Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox) won in 2025, Evan Carter (Rangers) posted +11 OAA, and Steven Kwan (Guardians) moved to center full-time. Michael Harris II (Braves) and Andy Pages (Dodgers) are the other NL names.

In right, Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox led MLB with +28 DRS across all positions, joined by Cam Smith (Astros) and Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays). In the NL, Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) led right fielders with +14 DRS, Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks) posted +10 OAA, and rookie Carson Benge (Mets) became one of just seven outfielders in 2026 with 10 or more outfield assists.

Utility: The Do-Everything Guys

The utility award honors players who play good defense all over the field. The AL finalists are Zach McKinstry (Tigers), Ezequiel Duran (Rangers), and José Caballero (Yankees). The NL finalists are Mauricio Dubón (Braves), Jared Triolo (Pirates), and Ildemaro Vargas (Diamondbacks), who posted +4 Fielding Run Value while playing five positions.

What Gold Glove Defense Teaches You About Your Own Glove

Every guy on this list plays with a glove that's broken in, laced tight, and ready to work. Defense at any level starts with the glove being in good shape.

A worn-out glove costs you plays. Here's what I look at when someone brings me one:

Laces: Dry, stretched, or snapped laces make the glove floppy and unreliable.
Web: A loose web means balls pop out.
Palm and pocket: If the pocket has gone flat or the palm is cracked, the glove isn't catching like it should.

Some of this you can handle yourself, like cleaning and light conditioning. Relacing and web repair take practice, and a bad job can make things worse. When in doubt, a pro saves you from guessing. If you want a trusted shop that does quality, timely work and pays attention to the small details, head over to TheGloveSOS.com and find a glove repair shop near you. And if you run a repair shop, list your shop on TheGloveSOS.com so players can find you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the 2026 Gold Glove nominees at shortstop?

In the American League, the shortstop finalists are Andrés Giménez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Taylor Walls. In the National League, they're Geraldo Perdomo, Masyn Winn, and Dansby Swanson.

How are Gold Glove winners chosen?

The process blends advanced metrics like Outs Above Average, Defensive Runs Saved, and Statcast's Fielding Run Value with votes from managers and coaches. Both parts matter in picking the finalists.

Who had the best defensive season among the 2026 nominees?

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs had one of the best defensive outfield seasons in modern MLB history, leading all of baseball with +23 DRS, +26 Fielding Run Value, and +26 OAA.

Can I fix my own baseball glove at home?

Cleaning and light conditioning are fine to do yourself. Relacing, web work, and bigger repairs are better left to an experienced pro, and TheGloveSOS.com can help you find a trusted shop.