2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Finalists Announced; Cubs Unsurprisingly Land Five Nominees

[Maddie Landis]

Earlier today, Rawlings announced the 2026 Gold Glove finalists. The Chicago Cubs were well represented with five players: 

• CF: Pete Crow Armstrong (previously won in '25)
• 3B: Alex Bregman (previously won in '24)
• SS: Dansby Swanson (previously won '22-23)
• LF: Ian Happ (previously won '22-25 )
• RF: Seiya Suzuki (first nomination)

Should we be surprised? Not really. This past season, no team played better defense than the Cubs. Among the plethora of defensive stats, they led the league in FRV (76), OAA (74), and DRS (115). Notably, second baseman Nico Hoerner (9 OAA & FRV each) was excluded, but he had to fill in at shortstop for Dansby Swanson’s oblique injury. 

The most unexpected nominee was Seiya Suzuki. In his walk season, he upped his defensive game. Among NL right fielders, he ranked first in FRV (8) and DRS (14) and second in OAA (3). Keep in mind, Suzuki played in the same league as Diamondbacks speedster Corbin Carroll and is six years older than him. This is Suzuki's first Gold Glove nomination in the majors. As a member of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, he had previously won five NPB Gold Gloves Awards.

The winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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[Stratos]

Seiya?  Wow, good for him.

[mk49]

I think Seiya will win his first GG.  We know Pete will.  And, possibly, Bregman, too.

[Jason Ross]

20 minutes ago, mk49 said:

I think Seiya will win his first GG.  We know Pete will.  And, possibly, Bregman, too.

Carroll (12 DRS and 10 OAA) is gonna take RF. Suzuki (14 DRS and 5 OAA) is going to come second. 

It'll be close, but Corban has the better reputation out there and it's close statistically but in his favor, too. Voters tend to rely on the rep a bunch and when the stats are also mostly on your side, you end up winning. 

Bregman and Pete will take GG's. Happ will finish 2nd to Chourio. Wynn takes SS, Swanson finishes third.

[Tryptamine]

Did Nico really fall off that hard?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I hope Pete doesn't get robbed of platinum again

[Jason Ross]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Did Nico really fall off that hard?

Not super hard. He was still good. He just wasn't elite this year and the NL was specifically good. He was 4th in the NL (6th overall) in DRS and 5th in the NL (7th overall) in OAA. 

DRS +4

OAA +9