2025 MLB Gold Glove Awards: Reviewing the Best Defenders in Baseball
The 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been announced, honoring the elite defenders who turned highlight-reel plays into routine outs all season long. This year's class features a compelling mix of defensive wizards cementing their legacies and young stars announcing their arrival on baseball's biggest stage. Let's break down the winners from both leagues.
American League Gold Glove Winners
Catcher: Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers In his first full major league season, Dingler made an immediate impact behind the plate, joining an illustrious list of Tigers catchers that includes Ivan Rodriguez, Lance Parrish, and Bill Freehan. The young backstop became the first Tigers player at any position to win a Gold Glove since Ian Kinsler in 2016, signaling a defensive resurgence in Detroit.
First Base: Ty France, Minnesota Twins/Toronto Blue Jays France took home his first Gold Glove in what became an interesting footnote—he won despite spending the end of the season as a backup to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Toronto after being traded from Minnesota. His defensive excellence throughout the year couldn't be denied, regardless of where he landed.
Second Base: Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers Semien earned his second career Gold Glove, anchoring a Rangers defense that led all of Major League Baseball with +89 Defensive Runs Saved. While Texas struggled offensively in 2025, their defensive prowess kept them competitive, with Semien serving as the cornerstone of that stellar unit.
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals Witt continued his ascension to superstardom with his second consecutive Gold Glove. The 25-year-old led all of baseball with 24 Outs Above Average and became the first player in Royals history to win multiple Gold Gloves at shortstop. He also earned the prestigious Platinum Glove Award as the American League's best defender regardless of position.
Third Base: Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals Garcia's first Gold Glove made history alongside his double-play partner. The Garcia-Witt combination became the first shortstop/third base duo to win Gold Gloves together since J.J. Hardy and Manny Machado accomplished the feat with Baltimore in 2013. At just 25, Garcia recorded 18 Outs Above Average, sixth-best in all of baseball.
Left Field: Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians Kwan earned his second consecutive Gold Glove, continuing to prove that his defensive excellence is no fluke. His reliable glove work and instincts in left field have made him one of the most dependable outfielders in the game.
Center Field: Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox Rafaela's first Gold Glove helped Boston join exclusive company—it marked the fifth time in franchise history that multiple Red Sox outfielders won Gold Gloves in the same season. His range and athleticism in center field were on full display throughout his impressive campaign.
Right Field: Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox Abreu defended his 2024 Gold Glove with another stellar season, finishing tied for second among all right fielders with +15 Defensive Runs Saved while leading AL right fielders with +8 Outs Above Average. His consistency has established him as one of the premier defensive outfielders in baseball.
Utility: Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros Dubón was the quintessential utility player for Houston in 2025, showcasing his defensive versatility across multiple positions. The utility Gold Glove, added in 2022, recognizes players who excel wherever they're needed—Dubón embodied that spirit perfectly.
Pitcher: Max Fried, New York Yankees Fried led all major league pitchers with +10 Defensive Runs Saved en route to his fourth career Gold Glove. It's his first with the Yankees after winning three straight with the Braves from 2020-22, making him the fourth Yankees pitcher ever to win the award.
National League Gold Glove Winners
Catcher: Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants Bailey won his second consecutive Gold Glove, becoming the first Giants catcher to earn multiple Gold Gloves and the first National League backstop to win back-to-back awards since Yadier Molina's streak from 2008-15. His elite pitch framing led all catchers with +25 framing runs, and his +19 Defensive Runs Saved topped all major league backstops.
First Base: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves Olson claimed his third Gold Glove and first since 2019 with Oakland. He led all NL first basemen in both Outs Above Average (+9) and Defensive Runs Saved (+17), becoming just the second Braves first baseman to win the award after Freddie Freeman.
Second Base: Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs Hoerner was part of the Cubs' historic defensive season, helping Chicago tie a franchise record with three Gold Glove winners. His steady presence up the middle was instrumental in the Cubs leading the National League with 84 Defensive Runs Saved.
Shortstop: Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals Winn earned his first Gold Glove, adding another stellar defender to the Cardinals' rich tradition of excellence at the position. His range and reliability made him a deserving first-time winner.
Third Base: Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates Hayes continued to establish himself as one of the game's premier defensive third basemen, adding to his growing Gold Glove collection with another outstanding season at the hot corner.
Left Field: Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs Happ earned his fourth consecutive Gold Glove, cementing his status as one of the most reliable defensive outfielders in baseball. His consistency has been remarkable, and he's become synonymous with defensive excellence in left field.
Center Field: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs The young center fielder's first Gold Glove was one of the season's most impressive stories. Crow-Armstrong tied Bobby Witt Jr. for the major league lead with 24 Outs Above Average and finished tied with Fernando Tatis Jr. among NL outfielders with +15 Defensive Runs Saved. His speed and instincts make him a defensive force for years to come.
Right Field: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres Tatis earned his second Gold Glove in three years since transitioning from shortstop to right field in 2023. He's led all NL outfielders with +42 Defensive Runs Saved since making the move, proving his adjustment has been nothing short of spectacular. He also earned his second Platinum Glove Award as the National League's best defender.
Utility: Javier Sanoja, San Diego Padres Sanoja joined the growing list of versatile defenders being recognized for their ability to excel at multiple positions, winning his first Gold Glove in the relatively new utility category.
Pitcher: Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants Webb's first career Gold Glove came alongside his batterymate Bailey's second, making them the first catcher-pitcher duo to win together since Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright in 2013. Webb made significant strides in holding runners, earning well-deserved recognition for his defensive contributions.
Team Gold Gloves
The Texas Rangers won the American League Team Gold Glove, leading the majors with their stellar +89 Defensive Runs Saved despite offensive struggles. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs took home the honor after leading their league with 84 DRS and dominating virtually every defensive metric, including 40 Fielding Run Value and 36 Outs Above Average.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Gold Glove Awards celebrated both excellence and youth. With nine first-time winners, including standouts like Crow-Armstrong, Dingler, Garcia, and Winn, the future of defensive baseball looks incredibly bright. Meanwhile, veterans like Ian Happ (four consecutive awards) and Max Fried (four career awards) continue setting the standard for what elite defense looks like.
The Kansas City Royals' dynamic left side of the infield, the Giants' historic battery combination, and the Cubs' team-wide defensive dominance defined this year's awards. As we head into the offseason, these defenders have set the bar high—and given fans countless memories of spectacular plays that saved runs and won games.
Defense might not always make the highlight reels like a towering home run, but as the 2025 Gold Glove winners proved, it's what separates good teams from great ones.
What did you think of this year's Gold Glove selections? Which winner impressed you most in 2025? Share your thoughts with us at Line Drive Apparel!
