It was a late-summer evening in the Bronx, with the Red Sox in town and the Yankees clinging to a one-run lead over their most historic rivals. With the tying run at third base, a fly ball sailed into left field, reducing the game to a matchup: Cody Bellinger’s arm against Ceddanne Rafaela’s speed.
Bellinger settled under the ball and unleashed a one-hop strike to catcher Austin Wells, who tagged Rafaela on the back end of an inning-ending double play -- a moment manager Aaron Boone described as “one of the defensive plays of the year.”
“He made a perfect throw,” Rafaela said that night, after the Yankees held on for a 1-0 victory. “I think that's the only throw that can get me out right there.”
That was arguably Bellinger’s finest defensive play in a portfolio of defensive excellence that was recognized on Sunday as the 31-year-old brought home his second career Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Bellinger won his first Gold Glove with the Dodgers in 2019, when he played right field. Wyatt Langford of the Rangers and Chandler Simpson of the Rays were the other American League left-field finalists this season.
Earlier this offseason, Bellinger also received a 2026 Fielding Bible Award, earning 14 of 17 first-place votes. Bellinger is the first Yankee to win a Gold Glove Award in left field since Brett Gardner (2016).
The Yankees also had one Gold Glove Award winner last season: pitcher Max Fried.
In his second season with the Yankees, Bellinger led all left fielders with +21 Defensive Runs Saved. He displayed exceptional range (+6 Outs Above Average), while his 93.3 mph average arm strength ranked in the 94th percentile of all Major Leaguers.
His throw to cut down Rafaela on Aug. 28 was clocked at 99.7 mph -- the Yankees’ third-fastest-tracked outfield assist under Statcast (since 2015), behind Aaron Hicks (105.5 mph, 2016) and Aaron Judge (100.5 mph, 2018).
“I was able to get some good momentum going home,” Bellinger said after the Aug. 28 game. “Rafaela was at third, so it was one of those where I feel like I had to make a good throw. Wellsy, with the great tag, he made a great play as well. So I was just glad I was able to make that throw.”
Bellinger’s eight outfield assists were tied for third among Major League left fielders.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Boone said. “He’s really good on his feet, really good off-balance, really good when he gets his hands on it. He’s a really smart and accurate thrower. I think it’s just a look at a really good athlete that’s gotten really good at playing the [outfield] corner.”
After impressing Boone with his versatility in 2025, when he saw time at all three outfield spots and first base, Bellinger settled into a more regular role this past season. The Yankees gave him 112 starts in left field, allowing him to build consistency.
“I think with one position, you get the reps, consistency and a consistent arm release,” Bellinger said. “Wherever they play me is where I’ll be.”
Bellinger credited the Yankees’ coaching staff for helping take his game to another level.
“Last year, they really helped me with my first step,” Bellinger said. “That was a big part of it, being able to get better jumps. The arm, the throws, I’m always working on it, always trying to keep the arm strength.”
Gold Gloves are voted upon by MLB managers and coaches, with a sabermetric component.
To determine the Gold Glove winners at the nine standard positions, 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own team. These votes make up 75% of the selection total, with the SABR Defensive Index accounting for the other 25%.