🏅2025 Gold Glove Finalists Revealed: Defensive Aces Who Defined the Season

🔍 A New Look at Defensive Excellence

This week, MLB announced its 2025 Gold Glove Award finalists — the standout defenders across both leagues whose gloves spoke louder than their bats. The winners will be revealed on Sunday, Nov. 2, on ESPN, but the list of finalists already tells its own compelling story about the season’s defensive warriors.

Voting is split: 75% from MLB managers and coaches (excluding their own teams), and 25% from the SABR Defensive Index. For utility defenders — a newer category added in 2022 — Rawlings and SABR use a custom formula beyond traditional votes.

🧤 Spotlight on the Top Nominees

The Cubs and Blue Jays tied for the most nominees in 2025. Chicago landed six finalist slots, while Toronto matched that number across five players. The breadth of talent is staggering.

Below are select finalists whose defensive seasons turned heads across MLB:

American League Highlights

• Pitcher:

  • Jacob deGrom (Rangers) — Posted a 2.97 ERA over 172⅔ innings without committing an error.

  • Max Fried (Yankees) — Led AL pitchers with 10 Defensive Runs Saved and 39 assists.

  • Luis Severino (Athletics) — Transitioned smoothly to the AL, maintaining elite fielding skills.

• Catcher:

  • Dillon Dingler (Tigers) — Rated in the 95th percentile in blocking, 85th in caught stealing, and 91st in framing metrics.

  • Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) — Dominated blocks ( +21) and framing (top among catchers).

  • Carlos Narváez (Red Sox) — Among the top 20% in blocks, framing, and caught stealing.

• Infield & Outfield Standouts:

  • Ty France / Vladimir Guerrero Jr. / Carlos Santana (1B) — France posted a +10 Outs Above Average (OAA), Santana continued to defy age.

  • Andrés Giménez / Luis Rengifo / Marcus Semien (2B) — Giménez led again with dynamic range metrics.

  • Corey Seager / Taylor Walls / Bobby Witt Jr. (SS) — Seager still chases his first glove, while Witt paced MLB in fielding run value.

  • Steven Kwan / Wyatt Langford / Tyler Soderstrom (LF) — Kwan pursued a fourth straight glove; Langford impressed in only his second season.

  • Ceddanne Rafaela / Julio Rodríguez / Kyle Isbel (CF) — Rafaela turned heads with elite speed and instincts.

  • Wilyer Abreu / Adolis García / Cam Smith (RF) — Abreu and García posted outstanding arm strength and DRS totals.

• Utility Position:

  • Ernie Clement (Blue Jays) — Versatile across infield spots, Clement’s 2.9 Defensive WAR and +13 OAA give him a strong case.

  • Mauricio Dubón (Astros) — Posted +20 OAA while playing all over the diamond.

  • Daniel Schneemann (Guardians) — Excelled defensively at multiple spots with steady metrics.

🏆 National League Nominees Worth Noting

• Pitcher:

  • Matthew Boyd (Cubs) — Tied MLB for highest caught-stealing pickoff rate with 11.

  • David Peterson (Mets) — Career-best 168⅔ innings with strong DRS numbers.

  • Logan Webb (Giants) — Only one error across many chances, leading NL pitchers in defensive metrics.

• Catcher:

  • Patrick Bailey (Giants) — +31 fielding run value and elite throw-down numbers.

  • Carson Kelly (Cubs) — Strong in blocking and framing categories.

  • Luis Torrens (Mets) — High marks in caught stealing and framing in limited action.

• Infield / Outfield:

  • Bryce Harper / Matt Olson / Spencer Steer (1B) — Olson dominated DRS; Harper continues adapting.

  • Xavier Edwards / Nico Hoerner / Brice Turang (2B) — Hoerner seeks a repeat after leading in OAA.

  • Ke’Bryan Hayes / Ryan McMahon / Matt Shaw (3B) — Hayes lit up metrics across new team.

  • Nick Allen / Mookie Betts / Masyn Winn (SS) — Allen impressed in a career-high season.

  • Ian Happ / Tommy Pham / Kyle Stowers (LF) — Happ gunning for a fourth straight glove.

  • Victor Scott II / Pete Crow-Armstrong / Jacob Young (CF) — All part of a new crop redefining range metrics.

  • Corbin Carroll / Fernando Tatis Jr. / Sal Frelick (RF) — Carroll led in arm strength; Tatis remained a slash-line force.

  • Miguel Rojas / Javier Sanoja / Jared Triolo (Utility) — Rojas’ versatility stood out across multiple positions.

❓ Q & A: Understanding the 2025 Gold Glove Process

Q: How are Gold Glove winners selected?
A: 75% of the decision comes from MLB managers and coaches (they can’t vote for players on their own team). The remaining 25% is determined by the SABR Defensive Index, a data-driven formula. Utility defenders use a special formula created just for them.

Q: What benefits come with being a finalist?
A: Finalists gain recognition, boost their defensive resume, and can command more respect (and sometimes contract leverage).

Q: Which teams had the most finalists?
A: The Cubs led the league with six nominations, matched by the Blue Jays (spread across five players).

Q: Can a player win Gold Glove at more than one position?
A: Yes — especially via the utility category. Some have done it historically; Ernie Clement is among those with a chance this year.

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