bleacherreport
The New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong have been hailed as Major League Baseball's premier defensive talents, each earning a 2026 Platinum Glove Award. The honors were revealed on the evening of the Gold Glove Award Ceremony, held Friday night in New York City.
Platinum Glove recipients are determined from the pool of Gold Glove winners, with the selection process incorporating both fan voting and defensive metrics from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). This year marks the 16th time the award has been presented since its inception in 2011.
Crow-Armstrong becomes the first National League center fielder to capture a Platinum Glove and the second Cubs player overall, following Anthony Rizzo's win in 2011. His standout season featured MLB-leading totals in outs above average (26) and runs prevented (23), along with 16 defensive runs saved, which tied for seventh league-wide, per Baseball Savant and Fielding Bible. The young outfielder is also a finalist for the NL MVP award and could become the first player ever to win a Platinum Glove and an MVP in the same season.
Bellinger, meanwhile, is the second Yankees player to earn the AL Platinum Glove, joining Jose Trevino, who was honored in 2022. This season, Bellinger posted six outs above average, prevented six runs, and recorded 20 defensive runs saved, according to Baseball Savant and Fielding Bible.
Some fans voiced objections, arguing that other Gold Glove winners—such as Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela—deserved consideration for the Platinum Glove.
Other American League Gold Glove winners included Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee, Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young, Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls, Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu, and Texas Rangers utility player Ezequiel Duran.
The National League Gold Glove list was completed by New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio, Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll, and Braves utility player Mauricio Dubon.
Key Analysis
Crow-Armstrong's historic Platinum Glove win underscores the growing emphasis on advanced defensive metrics in evaluating players. His league-leading outs above average and runs prevented highlight his exceptional range and arm, making him a dual-threat MVP candidate. Bellinger's recognition, while backed by solid numbers, sparked debate among fans who favored other candidates like Rafaela, reflecting the subjective nature of defensive awards. As the Platinum Glove enters its 16th year, the blend of fan input and SABR analytics continues to shape the conversation around defensive excellence in baseball.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.