The Solution is golden! Duran wins first Gold Glove
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ARLINGTON -- “I think there's something wrong if [Ezequiel Duran] doesn't win the Gold Glove,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said of his super utility star on Sept. 12 in Arizona.
Schumaker doesn’t have to worry.
Nicknamed “The Solution” because of his ability to play multiple positions at a high level, Duran was rewarded for his efforts with his first career American League Gold Glove Award, Rawlings announced on Sunday.
Rangers ace Jacob deGrom and outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter were also named finalists, but they did not win at their respective positions. Duran is the first Ranger to win a Gold Glove at the utility spot.
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“I'm biased, obviously, but as far as that defensively, I don't know who even comps to him,” Schumaker said. “And that's no offense to anybody else that's up for the award. It's just he's had that kind of special year that it just should be just handed to him at this point.”
Duran made starts at every position except for pitcher and catcher: shortstop (49), third base (41), second base (25), center field (14), left field (9), right field (7) and first base (1).
He became just the third Ranger to start at seven positions in a single season, following Danny Santana in 2019 and Josh Smith in '25, and he is just one of two players to do so in MLB in '26 (along with the Cardinals’ José Fermin).
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Duran collected a team-high 16 outs above average, tied for sixth most in MLB. He registered positive OAA values at shortstop (11), second base (3) and third base (2), becoming one of 14 MLB players with 1+ OAA at at least three positions.
He also recorded 1+ defensive runs saved at three positions: third base (3), right field (3) and shortstop (1).
“No one plays shortstop like Zeke,” Schumaker said. “And also plays center field like Zeke, and can play third, and can play short, and second and everywhere else. He is defensively fantastic, but he has 17 home runs and 70-plus RBIs. He can also steal, and he's probably our best baserunner. He's been fun to watch, a pleasure to be around in the clubhouse. I’m really happy with the type of year he's had.”