Rawlings brings iconic Gold Glove Award to AUSL

One of the most iconic awards in baseball is heading back to the professional softball ranks.

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Rawlings announced that the Gold Glove Award will be presented to the AUSL’s top defender at the end of the 2026 season in late July. According to a release, the award’s recipient will be determined by a vote from coaches and managers, who will not be able to vote for players from their own teams.

Now the standard for defensive excellence on the field, the Gold Glove has been awarded in MLB since 1957, expanding to the high school and college baseball ranks in 2007. The award was introduced to college softball in 2022 and was previously in professional softball from 2016-2019 in the National Pro Fastpitch League.

“The Rawlings Gold Glove Award represents the highest standards of defensive excellence in the game and bringing that recognition to the AUSL is a meaningful step for our athletes and for the league,” said AUSL Commissioner Kim Ng in a statement. “This partnership with Rawlings, a brand with a deep legacy in diamond sports, reinforces the caliber of talent and performance that defines the AUSL.”