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Cubs Lead National League With 5 Gold Gold Finalists
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- Cubs Lead National League With 5 Gold Gold Finalists
Rawlings announced the 2026 Gold Glove finalists for every position on Wednesday morning.
To no surprise, the Chicago Cubs have a handful of Gold Glove finalists. After having the best defense during the 2026 season, the Cubs have five players listed as Gold Glove finalists this year.
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Those players are Alex Bregman (third base), Dansby Swanson (shortstop), Ian Happ (left field), Pete Crow-Armstrong (center field), and Seiya Suzuki (right field). Each of these five players has a realistic shot at a Gold Glove at their position.
The biggest surprise on this list is obviously Suzuki. Just a few years ago, there were major concerns about his defense in right field. He finished with a -2 Fielding Run Value in 2023 (32nd percentile), a -3 Fielding Run Value in 2024 (31st percentile), and a -1 Fielding Run Value in 2025 (not qualified).
After spending more time as a DH for the Cubs last year, Suzuki moved back to the outfield full-time this season after Kyle Tucker's departure. The Japanese slugger then had his best defensive season yet.
Suzuki finished in the 86th percentile in Fielding Run Value (8), finished fifth among all right fielders in both Outs Above Average (5) and Runs Prevented (5), and converted five of seven four-star catch opportunities.
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Suzuki definitely has a shot at his first Gold Glove, but he's likely not the favorite. Corbin Carroll led all right fielders in Outs Above Average (10) and Runs Prevented (9), and the Diamondbacks outfielder is also a National League finalist at the position.
The biggest lock for Gold Glove among all five Cubs finalists is Crow-Armstrong. No defender in baseball was better than the Cubs center fielder. He ranked first among all defenders in Outs Above Average (26), Runs Prevented (23), Fielding Run Value (26), and five- and four-star catches combined (22).
Crow-Armstrong will surely take home his second straight Gold Glove and should also be in the running for the Platinum Glove after his incredible defensive season.
As for Bregman, Swanson, and Happ, all three are looking to win yet another Gold Glove. Bregman won his one and only one back in 2024. Swanson is looking to win his third total and his first since 2023. Happ is attempting to win his fifth straight.
The Cubs are one of two teams that have five Gold Glove finalists. The Toronto Blue Jays are the other team. ESPN will announce the Gold Glove winners at each position on Sunday, November 1.
