Predicting the 2026 Gold Glove Award winners

As with every other superlative for the 2026 season -- MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year -- the Gold Glove Awards look to produce some intense competition at multiple positions.

There are the usual suspects, such as Braves first baseman Matt Olson and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who continue to cement their reputations as elite defenders. But there’s also Marlins rookie catcher Joe Mack and Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt, who are among the newcomers making waves in the field with their defensive abilities.

• All-time Gold Glove winners

While some positional races seem locked up, others could go in multiple directions. It’s all reflected in a poll of MLB.com experts who were asked to predict who will take home the golden hardware after the season. As usual in these polls, voters made picks based on performances so far, but also on how things are expected to play out the rest of the season.

Here are the results.

All stats are through Sunday.

CATCHER

AL: Dillon Dingler, Tigers

Dingler has been the fifth-most valuable player in baseball this season, according to FanGraphs, and much of that value stems from superb defense. Dingler’s excellence is well-rounded: He’s elite at framing (97th percentile), blocking (94th percentile) and pop time (90th percentile). Not to mention, he is the best at ABS challenges, too. He has accrued the most ABS value in the game among catchers, according to Statcast’s overturns vs. expected model.

NL: Joe Mack, Marlins

A first-round Draft pick in 2021, Mack arrived in the big leagues this May with a reputation as one of the best behind the plate in the Minors. That reputation has been borne out in the numbers as he is among the leaders in catcher framing runs (plus-6, 93rd percentile) and catcher’s caught stealing above average (plus-7, 97th percentile). His plus-11 fielding run value is the highest among NL backstops.

FIRST BASE

AL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

Guerrero, who won the Gold Glove here in 2022, remains a strong defender at first base. He leads all AL first basemen with eight Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-6 Fielding Run Value. Meanwhile, his four Outs Above Average rank second among his AL positional peers.

NL: Matt Olson, Braves

Olson, a three-time Gold Glover and the reigning NL winner here, is the favorite again this season. He’s tied for the NL lead among first basemen with seven Outs Above Average and five runs prevented, while his Fielding Run Value (plus-7) ranks second. Meanwhile, he’s also become the King of Scoops.

SECOND BASE

AL: Chase Meidroth, White Sox

Meidroth has emerged as arguably the best defensive second baseman in the AL. His plus-9 Fielding Run Value is best in the league among second sackers, while his eight Outs Above Average are tied for the second-highest total among his AL peers. Meidroth also leads all MLB second basemen in putouts and ranks third in the AL in assists.

NL: JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals

Wetherholt has had quite a productive rookie season and should be among the favorites to win NL Rookie of the Year. A big part of his value is his defense, with Wetherholt’s 21 Outs Above Average and plus-21 fielding run value leading all MLB second basemen. His 13 Defensive Runs Saved rank fourth in the NL.

THIRD BASE

AL: Caleb Durbin, Red Sox

It took a little while for Durbin’s bat to heat up in his first year with the Red Sox, but his glove has never wavered. Durbin’s four Outs Above Average and plus-5 Fielding Run Value each rank second best among AL third basemen, behind only the Royals’ Nick Loftin. No Boston infielder has won a Gold Glove since Ian Kinsler in 2018.

NL: Alex Bregman, Cubs

How is this for serendipity? The Red Sox acquired Durbin in February to man third base after Bregman -- Boston’s third baseman in 2025 -- departed via free agency. Now, the 32-year-old is well positioned to win his second Gold Glove Award. He leads all MLB third basemen with a plus-6 Fielding Run Value, and his Outs Above Average are tied with the Padres’ Manny Machado for most among that position. Bregman is the first of several Cubs players you’ll see on this list, and for good reason: Chicago is widely considered the best defensive team in the Majors.

SHORTSTOP

AL: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

Witt seems poised to win his third consecutive Gold Glove Award, and this may very well end up as his best defensive season yet. He’s accumulated 23 Outs Above Average, which equals his total from 2025 and matches the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong for the most in the Majors this season. Only three shortstops have recorded at least 25 OAA in a single season under Statcast, and no one has done so since Nicky Lopez achieved that total with the Royals in 2021. Witt could certainly become the fourth.

NL: Masyn Winn, Cardinals

Not to be overshadowed by his double-play partner, Winn is making a bid for his second straight Gold Glove Award. He’s always been known for his arm, with a 94.3 mph average arm strength that ranks in the 96th percentile of MLB. But there is far more to his defensive game. Winn leads all NL shortstops with a plus-15 Fielding Run Value this season, while his 15 Outs Above Average are the second most among NL shortstops.

LEFT FIELD

AL: Cody Bellinger, Yankees

Bellinger won his lone Gold Glove back in 2019, but he has been arguably the best AL left fielder since the start of 2025. His plus-14 Fielding Run Value and 12 Outs Above Average are the most at his position over that span. He sits above the 90th percentile in each of those statistics this year.

NL: Ian Happ, Cubs

Happ is as dependable as they come in left field. He has made just three errors over more than 3,600 innings spent at his position since the beginning of 2024. He is leading NL left fielders in assists (eight), and his plus-5 arm value is tied for the second-most among all outfielders this season.

CENTER FIELD

AL: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox

The Red Sox will miss Rafaela’s superb defense in center field for the foreseeable future. When healthy, there’s no one better at that spot in the junior circuit. Rafaela, a first-time Gold Glove Award winner last season, has made the most five-star catches of any player in the Majors (nine). He is also the AL leader among outfielders in Outs Above Average (15) and Fielding Run Value (plus-15) this season. Only the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is ahead of him in MLB.

NL: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

Is there an easier selection for the Gold Glove at any position this year? Probably not. PCA is on track to win the award for a second straight year thanks to a level of defense that is basically unmatched in the sport. He is the MLB leader in Fielding Run Value (plus-26) and OAA (25), and his eight five-star catches rank second to Rafaela. Of course, a Gold Glove may not be the most notable award that ends up in Crow-Armstrong’s trophy case this winter.

RIGHT FIELD

AL: Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox

Abreu is hunting for his third straight Gold Glove in right field. Blessed with one of the strongest arms in the outfield, he leads American League outfielders with 12 assists this season. He is also at the head of the AL pack in Outs Above Average among right fielders since the start of 2024 (17).

NL: Corbin Carroll, D-backs
It feels like this is finally Carroll’s year to capture his first Gold Glove. Since the beginning of 2024, his 31 Outs Above Average ranks fourth in MLB and is the best at his position. This season, he is pacing all right fielders in OAA (10 -- four more than any other player in RF) and putouts (317).

UTILITY

AL: Ezequiel Duran, Rangers

This would be the first Gold Glove for Duran, who’s having a career year with Texas, in part because of his defensive prowess. After stints at third base, shortstop, second base, first base and in the outfield, he’s been worth an incredible 18 Outs Above Average, which ranks in MLB’s 99th percentile. Most of that has come during his time at shortstop (11 OAA), where he also has a plus-9 Fielding Run Value.

NL: Mauricio Dubón, Braves

Dubón, a two-time Gold Glove winner, including last year with the Astros, has been an incredibly valuable and versatile defensive asset for the Braves. He’s spent most of his time in the outfield this season, but has played plenty at short, along with spells at second and third. And he’s been really good, especially at shortstop, where he’s been worth five Outs Above Average.

PITCHER

AL: Tanner Bibee, Guardians

By Defensive Runs Saved, no AL pitcher has done a better job fielding their position this year than Bibee. His four DRS are tied for fourth most in the Majors. This isn’t surprising, because Bibee wants to make the play when the ball is hit to him. He said as much -- and showed as much -- way back in April after snagging a foul popup.

NL: Nolan McLean, Mets

McLean was a two-way player at Oklahoma State and did not convert to pitching on a full-time basis until his second year of professional baseball in 2024. That goes to say: There is plenty of athleticism here for the 24-year-old rookie. McLean’s five Defensive Runs Saved are tied for second most among NL pitchers, behind only the Braves’ Brent Suter. He could be the first Mets player -- pitcher or otherwise -- to win a Gold Glove Award since Juan Lagares in 2014.