2026 American League Gold Glove Finalists: Standouts at Every Position

The 2026 American League Gold Glove field features a mix of established winners and players whose defensive numbers make a strong case for their first award. Among the clearest statistical standouts: right fielder Wilyer Abreu led all players with 28 Defensive Runs Saved, while shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is seeking a third straight AL honor. Winners will be announced Sunday, November 1.

How finalists are selected

Three finalists are named at each position in both leagues, with a utility category returning for the first time since 2022. Managers and as many as six coaches from each MLB team vote, leaving players on their own team off their ballots. Those votes account for 75% of the result; the SABR Defensive Index supplies the other 25%. Rawlings and SABR co-developed a defensive formula to determine utility finalists.

American League finalists by position

Pitcher:
Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians
Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
José Soriano, Los Angeles Angels/Toronto Blue Jays

Bibee leads this group in both Outs Above Average (+6) and Defensive Runs Saved (+5), according to Statcast. DeGrom and Soriano are also in contention, and the winner would earn a first Gold Glove.

Catcher:
Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers
Brandon Valenzuela, Toronto Blue Jays
Austin Wells, New York Yankees

Dingler, the 2025 winner, enters as a strong contender after ranking above the 90th percentile in blocking, framing and pop time. His +17 Fielding Run Value led all catchers. Rookie Valenzuela placed among the top five in several defensive categories, while Wells has sustained strong all-around defense since 2024.

First Base:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
Christian Walker, Houston Astros

Walker has the edge in Defensive Run Value and arrives with three consecutive awards from 2022 through 2024. Guerrero turned in his strongest defensive season by several measures and previously won in 2022. Pasquantino also had a solid year, adding to Kansas City’s group of finalists.

Second Base:
Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals
Chase Meidroth, Chicago White Sox
Cole Young, Seattle Mariners

The metrics split the field: Massey leads in Outs Above Average (+11), while Meidroth tops Fielding Run Value (+10). Young’s evaluations vary by measure, with +16 Defensive Runs Saved alongside -5 Outs Above Average.

Third Base:
Caleb Durbin, Boston Red Sox
Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins
Nick Loftin, Kansas City Royals

Durbin led AL third basemen with +13 Defensive Runs Saved. Lee posted +6 Outs Above Average in limited time at third after moving over from shortstop during the season. Loftin also played elsewhere, but recorded six Defensive Runs Saved at the hot corner.

Shortstop:
Andrés Giménez, Toronto Blue Jays
Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

Giménez carried his award-winning defense at second base, where he won from 2022 to 2024, over to shortstop and recorded 19 Outs Above Average. Walls is a finalist for the second year running after posting +21 Defensive Runs Saved, tied for third among players at any position. Witt, winner of the past two AL awards, combines Outs Above Average tied for third across all defenders with a Fielding Run Value tied for the best among shortstops.

Left Field:
Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers
Chandler Simpson, Tampa Bay Rays

Bellinger last won a Gold Glove in 2019, as a right fielder. His Defensive Runs Saved led all left fielders this season. Langford recorded five Outs Above Average despite limited playing time between injuries, while Simpson’s speed helped him reach eight.

Center Field:
Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox

Carter’s speed helped produce 11 Outs Above Average, the fourth-highest total among center fielders last season. Kwan is eligible at the position for the first time after spending more time in left field; his 11 outfield assists tied for third in MLB. Rafaela’s Fielding Run Value and Outs Above Average ranked second only to Pete Crow-Armstrong, giving him a strong case for a first award.

Right Field:
Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox
Nathan Lukes, Toronto Blue Jays
Cam Smith, Houston Astros

Abreu’s 28 Defensive Runs Saved topped every position, with his arm contributing to the second-most outfield assists in baseball. Lukes recorded 10 assists and also showed a strong throwing arm. Smith, a former infielder, is a right-field finalist for a second straight year, supported by seven Outs Above Average.

Utility:
José Caballero, New York Yankees
Ezequiel Duran, Texas Rangers
Zach McKinstry, Detroit Tigers

Caballero played every defensive position except pitcher and catcher, recording 12 Defensive Runs Saved in his first year as a finalist. Duran covered infield and outfield spots and compiled 17 Outs Above Average, the sixth-highest total in baseball. McKinstry split most of his time between right field and second base, finishing with 15 Defensive Runs Saved and +12 Fielding Run Value.

The finalists’ numbers point to a tight contest at several positions, especially second base, where the leading metrics favor different players. The November 1 announcement will show how the voting and the SABR index weigh those cases.