Predicting the NL 2026 Gold Glove Winners

Pitcher:

• Michael McGreevy- St. Louis Cardinals
• Chris Sale- Atlanta Braves
• Nolan McLean- New York Mets

Michael McGreevy, in only his second full season in MLB, has fielded well. Over 168.2 innings, he recorded 22 assists, tied for first in DRS with +5, and posted +9 Net Bases Prevented. McGreevy also had 1 error for a .976 fielding percentage. Chris Sale, who won this award in 2024, the same year he won the Cy Young, will be looking to win his second. Sale posted +3 DRS, 17 assists, and 0 errors over 162.2 innings. Sale also had +3 Net Bases Prevented. Nolan McLean, in what would be his first actual season as a full-time starter, has proven to be a reliable pitcher. In 179.2 innings, he had +4 DRS, 24 assists, and +5 Net Bases Prevented. McLean makes a strong case, but 3 errors throughout the season knock his fielding percentage down to .930. If I were on the committee, I'd vote for Michael McGreevy. He was one of the league's most effective pitchers at limiting runners and saved runs, and he only had 1 error. I think Sale would be the next best, but second is a close toss-up between Sale and McLean. This would be McGreevy’s first time winning the award. The last time a Cardinals pitcher won a Gold Glove was in 2013, when Adam Wainwright won.

Winner: Michael McGreevy- St. Louis Cardinals (would be his first)

Catcher:

• Gabriel Moreno- Arizona Diamondbacks
• Luis Torrens- New York Mets
• Freddy Fermin- San Diego Padres

The Diamond Prospects Catcher Defense tool shows Freddy Fermin as the best defensive catcher in this group, followed by Luis Torrens and then Gabriel Moreno. I am surprised that Joe Mack wasn’t a finalist, as he was arguably the best throwing catcher in the league this season. He led the league in CS Above Average. Freddy Fermin had +10 Blocks Above Average, +3 Catcher Framing Runs, +8 DRS, +6 CS Above Average, and a .990 fielding percentage. Luis Torrens had +5 Blocks Above Average, +5 Framing Runs, +12 DRS, +4 CS Above Average, and a .997 fielding percentage. Gabriel Moreno is the only player in this group to win a Gold Glove, which he did in 2023. Moreno +5 Blocks Above Average, +5 Framing Runs, +14 DRS, +3 CS Above Average, and a .996 fielding percentage. When I evaluate a catcher’s defense, throwing guys out and blocking matter most. Framing has lost a lot of value because of ABS. It still plays a factor, just not nearly as much as it used to. By my philosophy, Freddy Fermin is the easy pick. Torrens makes a strong case, with 5 fewer errors than Fermin. However, I am going with my philosophy and picking Freddy Fermin. Whether that is how the voters evaluate catchers is just my opinion and way of thinking. You could honestly pick any one of these three and talk me into it; they're statistically that close. The last time a Padres catcher won the Gold Glove was in 1990, after Benito Santiago won three straight, all with the Padres.

Winner: Freddy Fermin- San Diego Padres (would be his first)

First Base:

• Ty France- San Diego Padres
• Matt Olson- Atlanta Braves
• TJ Rumfield- Colorado Rockies

Matt Olson has been one of this generation's best defenders, winning the award 3 times. Ty France is the reigning AL winner, winning his first last season. Olson is the reigning NL winner. Rumfield is looking to win his first in only his rookie season. Over 1,424 innings, Matt Olson posted +11 DRS, +11 OAA, +12 FRV, and a .994 fielding percentage. Using Savant’s Receiving OAA, Olson posted +2. Ty France had +15 DRS, +7 OAA, +10 FRV, and +5 Receiving OAA. France had a .997 through 1030.1 innings. TJ Rumfield had a +6 DRS, +2 OAA, +3 FRV, and +2 Receiving OAA. Rumfield also had a .994 fielding percentage through 1156.1 innings. I think that Rumfield is the easy guy out. It becomes a pure toss-up between Olson and France. They each are better at different things. I think that Matt Olson will win it, but I genuinely have no clue. Easily the hardest one so far, between two extremely good defensive first basemen. If Ty France wins, it would be the first time since Adrian González won it in 2008 and 2009.

Winner: Matt Olson- Atlanta Braves (would be his fourth)

Second Base:

• Brice Turang- Milwaukee Brewers
• JJ Wetherholt- St. Louis Cardinals
• Brandon Lowe- Pittsburgh Pirates

Brice Turang is seeking his second Gold Glove. JJ Wetherholt and Brandon Lowe have never won the award. Brice Turang had +23 DRS, +14 OAA, +14 FRV, and a .992 fielding percentage through 1311.2 innings. JJ Wetherholt had +13 DRS, +25 OAA, +23 FRV, and a .996 fielding percentage through 1101.1 innings. Brandon Lowe had +13 DRS, +15 OAA, +12 FRV, and a .980 fielding percentage through 1181.0 innings. I am happy Lowe had his first legit defensive season in this insane breakout year. He will be highly valued in free agency, which starts soon. However, his metrics just aren’t nearly as good as Wetherholt and Turang’s. Nico Hoerner won the award last season. He had a good year defensively; just like Lowe, it just isn’t quite good enough. Right now, I think Wetherholt is the frontrunner and will win. This would be his first time winning the award as a rookie. He joins a group of about only 16 players who have won a Gold Glove in their rookie season. The last time a Cardinals second baseman won the award was in 2021 when Tommy Edman won it.

Winner: JJ Wetherholt- St. Louis Cardinals (would be his first)

Third Base:

• Alex Bregman- Chicago Cubs
• Javier Sanoja- Miami Marlins
• Max Muncy- Los Angeles Dodgers

Alex Bregman has won this award before in 2024. That was the only time he won it. Javier Sanoja won a Gold Glove last season; however, he won the utility award, not third base. Max Muncy has been a defensive liability for most of his career, especially at third base. Alex Bregman had a +15 DRS, +9 OAA, a .982 fielding percentage, and +7 FRV. Javier Sanoja had a +5 DRS, +6 OAA, a .957 fielding percentage, and +5 FRV. Max Muncy had a +2 DRS, -1 OAA, and 0 FRV. He also had a .954 fielding percentage. I am a little surprised Austin Riley wasn’t a finalist compared to Muncy. Riley was honestly a lot better through more innings. Max Muncy and Sanoja realistically don’t really have a chance. I think this will be a runaway for Bregman. Bregman will win his second Gold Glove.

Winner: Alex Bregman (would be his second)

Shortstop:

• Dansby Swanson- Chicago Cubs
• Geraldo Perdomo- Arizona Diamondbacks
• Masyn Winn- St. Louis Cardinals

Winn is the reigning NL shortstop Gold Glove winner. Swanson has won the award twice, most recently in 2023. This is Perdomo's first time as a Gold Glove finalist. Dansby Swanson had +6 DRS, +16 OAA, and +11 FRV. Through 1087.2 innings, he had a .984 fielding percentage. Geraldo Perdomo had +8 DRS, +16 OAA, +13 FRV, and a .987 fielding percentage through 1372.0 innings. Masyn Winn had +10 DRS, +19 OAA, +17 FRV, and a .92 fielding percentage through 1141.1 innings. I think this is an easy pick. Masyn Winn is simply better than Swanson in every category. Perdomo had a very solid season as well, but none of them compare to Winn. Masyn Winn is solidifying his status as one of the league's best shortstops and has a bright future with the glove. If he can get back to his 2024 bat, he could be one of the league's best shortstops. Winn would therefore win his second Gold Glove in a row. He now enters a list that includes HOF Ozzie Smith and Édgar Rentería as the only two shortstops to win two consecutive Gold Gloves.

Winner: Masyn Winn- St. Louis Cardinals (would be his second)

Left Field:

• Daylen Lile- Washington Nationals
• Ian Happ- Chicago Cubs
• Jackson Chourio- Milwaukee Brewers

Daylen Lile and Jackson Chourio have never won a Gold Glove. Ian Happ has dominated the award. He has won four in his career and is looking for number five. He has won 4 Gold Gloves in a row. Happ is trying to join a list of 49 MLB players who have won five consecutive Gold Gloves. Anyways, let's get to Daylen Lile’s stats. Lile had +8 DRS, +2 OAA, +3 FRV, and 2 errors for a .992 fielding percentage. He also had +1 Arm Value. The four-time reigning winner had +10 DRS, +2 OAA, +6 FRV, +5 Arm Value, and only had 1 error. Jackson Chourio, who is having a legendary postseason, had +13 DRS, +6 OAA, +8 FRV, and a +3 Arm Value. Chourio also had 0 errors over 1021.2 innings. To me, Happ's streak is going to end. Chourio will end it. Lile has had a very solid season, and I fully expect him to improve and be a potential finalist for years to come. However, his numbers fall shy of Happ and Chourio. Chourio will cap off a 4.9 WAR season and a .838 OPS with his first Gold Glove. He will still be looking to cap it off with a World Series ring within the next few days. This would also be the first time a left fielder has ever won a Gold Glove in Brewers history.

Winner: Jackson Chourio- Milwaukee Brewers (would be his first)

Center Field:

• Pete Crow-Armstrong- Chicago Cubs
• Michael Harris II- Atlanta Braves
• Andy Pages- Los Angeles Dodgers

Pete Crow-Armstrong, likely to win MVP, will look to win his second straight Gold Glove. Michael Harris II and Andy Pages will be looking to win their first Gold Glove. PCA had +16 DRS, +25 OAA, +26 FRV, +4 Arm Value, and did have 6 errors. Michael Harris II had a +9 DRS, +13 OAA, +12 FRV, 0 Arm Value, and 0 errors. Andy Pages had +20 DRS, +9 OAA, +13 FRV, and a .992 fielding percentage. I think that Michael Harris II is the easy guy out. Pages would come in second, but it is pretty hard to argue against PCA. You could make a slight argument based on his errors this season, but he was the best CF defensively in both leagues, with Ceddanne Rafaela a close second. PCA is just flat-out too good, and as long as he is in the NL, I don’t expect anyone else to win for a while.

Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong- Chicago Cubs (would be his second)

Right Field:

• Corbin Carroll- Arizona Diamondbacks
• Carson Benge- New York Mets
• Seiya Suzuki- Chicago Cubs

Corbin Carroll will be chasing a Gold Glove again; he qualified last season but fell short to Fernando Tatis Jr. Carroll had +12 DRS, +10 OAA, +4 FRV, and -6 Arm Value. Carson Benge, the star in the making, had a tremendous rookie season. Benge will definitely be a Rookie of the Year finalist and will come down to him and Sal Stewart of the Reds, most likely. Benge posted +6 DRS, -1 OAA, +6 FRV, and +7 Arm Value, putting him in the 100th percentile for a rookie. He is also in the 99th percentile in Arm Strength. Seiya Suzuki had +14 DRS, +4 OAA, and +7 FRV. He also had a +3 Arm Value. For RF, Arm Value and OAA are probably the most important. For that reason, I don't think Corbin Carroll will win it. It's hard to justify someone winning if they are in the negatives, so I'm giving the edge to Suzuki, who is probably the highest-valued FA this season. This would be Suzuki’s first Gold Glove of his career. The last time a Cubs right fielder won a Gold Glove was in 2017 when Jason Heyward won his second consecutive.

Winner: Seiya Suzuki- Chicago Cubs (would be his first)

Utility:

• Mauricio Dubón- Atlanta Braves
• Jared Triolo- Pittsburgh Pirates
• Ildemaro Vargas- Arizona Diamondbacks

Mauricio Dubón won a Gold Glove last season with the Astros. He now comes to the NL to claim the award in both leagues. Triolo won the NL utility award in 2024. All statistics you see will be their total DRS at all positions. Dubón had +7 DRS, +5 OAA, and a +4 FRV. Jared Triolo had a +5 DRS, +1 OAA, and 0 FRV. Ildemaro Vargas had a +6 DRS, +2 OAA, and a +3 FRV. In comparison to the AL, this is a much weaker utility class. I think that any of the AL finalists would win pretty easily against this group. Out of these three, I think I am going to give it to Mauricio Dubón. This would be his third time winning the award, and the second time in a row he's won the utility award in one of the respective leagues. In this award's short history, no Brave has ever won it.

Winner: Mauricio Dubón- Atlanta Braves (would be his third)

Platinum Glove:

Side note: MLB needs to make the Platinum Glove a non-fan-vote award, because I think it would be much better if managers, coaches, and metrics decided it.

If this weren't a fan vote, I think PCA is the easy pick. I think that Wetherholt and Masyn Winn make a strong case. However, Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the NL in FRV, ties Wetherholt for first in OAA, and ranks third in DRS. I think PCA would still likely win, even in the fan vote format. He probably should have won it last year. Either PCA or Patrick Bailey; all I know is that Fernando Tatis Jr., if you aren’t a Padres fan, has zero reason to have won the Platinum Glove last season in the fan vote format.

Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong (would be his first)

Sources:

“2026 Gold Glove Award Finalists Revealed.” MLB.com, 14 Oct. 2026, https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-gold-glove-award-finalists.

“Chris Sale Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More.” Baseball-Reference.com, https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/salech01.shtml. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Ildemaro Vargas Stats.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ildemaro-vargas/13324/stats/batting. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Jared Triolo Stats.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jared-triolo/25807/stats/batting. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Major League Leaderboards: 2025 National League Fielding.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=nl&qual=y&season1=2025&season=2025. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Major League Leaderboards: 2026 Catcher Fielding.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?stats=fld&pos=c&season=2026&season1=2026&qual=100. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Major League Leaderboards: 2026 First Base Fielding.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?stats=fld&pos=1b&season=2026&season1=2026&qual=100. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Major League Leaderboards: 2026 Pitcher Fielding.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?stats=fld&pos=p&season=2026&season1=2026&qual=y. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Mauricio Dubón Stats.” FanGraphs, https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mauricio-dubon/16530/stats/batting. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Statcast Catcher Blocking Leaderboard.” Baseball Savant, MLB, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/catcher-blocking?players=672386-2026-141&selected_idx=0. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Statcast Catcher Framing Leaderboard.” Baseball Savant, MLB, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/catcher-framing. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Statcast Catcher Throwing Leaderboard.” Baseball Savant, MLB, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/catcher-throwing. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Statcast First Base Receiving Leaderboard.” Baseball Savant, MLB, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/first-base-scoops-receiving?viz_players=676475_2026&viz_selected_idx=0. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

“Statcast Pitcher Running Game Leaderboard.” Baseball Savant, MLB, https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/pitcher-running-game. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Tomasik, Mark. “Bobby Shantz: First Cardinals Pitcher to Win Gold Glove.” RetroSimba, 19 Nov. 2012, https://retrosimba.com/2012/11/19/bobby-shantz-first-cardinals-pitcher-to-win-gold-glove/.