Award season is underway, and the 2026 Gold Glove Awards are the first batch of major hardware being handed out this offseason. The Yankees had three finalists worthy of the honor: Austin Wells as one of the AL's top catchers, Cody Bellinger as the frontrunner for the left field candidates, and José Caballero in the utility role playing around the diamond. Ultimately, Bellinger found himself as the lone Yankee walking away with a trophy, earning his second-ever Gold Glove win after first winning it with the Dodgers back in his MVP 2019 season.
Bellinger has always been a capable fielder, and he was well-regarded last season when he posted seven Defensive Runs Saved but he took his game to another level in 2026. His 21 DRS tied him with Tampa Bay's Taylor Walls and Boston's Ceddanne Rafaela (both also Gold Glove winners tonight) for the third most in the majors, and his eight assists was tied for 10th among all outfielders. Bellinger managed to ratchet up the velocity on his throws to 93.3 mph, good for 94th percentile arm strength, and he also clocked in with 91st percentile range covering the spacious Yankee Stadium left field grass. With Aaron Judge out for most of the season, the Yankee outfield needed someone to step up as center and right field were both liabilities glove-wise — Bellinger more than did his part to anchor the outfield corps.
As for the Yankees' other candidates, Wells had an outside shot as one of the best pitch framers (95th percentile) in the league. His 10 Fielding Run Value was also good for the 91st percentile, but the award went to Detroit's Dillon Dingler for the second straight year after leading the pack with a 17 Fielding Run Value. Caballero, meanwhile, got off to a solid start in 2026 holding down shortstop in Anthony Volpe's absence where he accrued 13 DRS and was a net positive at second and third base as well. The award wound up going to Texas' Ezequiel Duran after a season where he was plugged into every position except catcher and pitcher for the Rangers.
Here's the full list of who walked away with a Gold Glove from both leagues, as well as how many times in their career they've earned the honor:
American League:
P: Tanner Bibee, Guardians (1st)
C: Dillon Dingler, Tigers (2nd)
1B: Christian Walker, Astros (4th)
2B Cole Young, Mariners (1st)
3B: Caleb Durbin, Red Sox (1st)
SS: Taylor Walls, Rays (1st)
LF: Cody Bellinger, Yankees (2nd)
CF: Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox (2nd)
RF: Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox (3rd)
UTIL: Ezequiel Duran, Rangers (1st)
National League:
P: Nolan McLean, Mets (1st)
C: Gabriel Moreno, Diamondbacks (2nd)
1B: Matt Olson, Braves (4th)
2B Brice Turang, Brewers (2nd)
3B: Alex Bregman, Cubs (2nd)
SS: Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks (1st)
LF: Jackson Chourio, Brewers (1st)
CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs (2nd)
RF: Corbin Caroll, Diamondbacks (1st)
UTIL: Mauricio Dubón, Braves (3rd)
