The Chicago Cubs are celebrating this year with three players winning Gold Glove awards, the highest in Major League Baseball. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, and Nico Hoerner showcased their exceptional defensive skills.
This is Crow-Armstrong’s first Gold Glove, marking a significant highlight in his breakout season as an All-Star center fielder. Ian Happ earned his fourth consecutive Gold Glove in left field, showcasing his consistency over the years. Hoerner secured his second award at second base, bouncing back from an injury that affected his early season.
“Winning four is special,” Happ said, emphasizing the team’s unity. “We fed off each other’s energy, and that made us stronger defensively.”
Other teams also had impressive winners. Kansas City, Boston, and San Francisco each had two Gold Glove recipients. Notably, Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia from the Royals made history as the first shortstop-third baseman duo to win in the same season since 2013. Witt has now won the award twice.
The Giants’ battery, Patrick Bailey and Logan Webb, is also noteworthy, being the first from a single team to achieve this since Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright did in 2013. Bailey won his second straight Gold Glove as a catcher.
Max Fried from the New York Yankees and Steven Kwan from Cleveland both joined the four-time winners’ club alongside Happ. Atlanta’s Matt Olson secured his third Gold Glove.
Other winners included Dillon Dingler from Detroit and Marcus Semien from Texas. Semien earned a $100,000 bonus for his achievement, while Kwan and Witt received $50,000 each. Hayes earned a $25,000 bonus for his efforts.
Voting for these awards involves managers and coaches who cannot vote for their own players. Since 2013, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) has influenced voting with a detailed defensive index, making it a more balanced evaluation.
Awards like these reflect not only individual talent but also highlight the importance of teamwork and strategy in baseball. A strong defense can transform a game’s outcome, often leading to a tighter match and more exciting plays.
For further insights on defensive metrics in baseball, you can check out the Society for American Baseball Research here.
