Story by
Cardinals Infield Duo Can Join MLB Greats by Sweeping Gold Glove Awards
- Story by
- Cardinals Infield Duo Can Join MLB Greats by Sweeping Gold Glove Awards
(Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
If the St. Louis Cardinals' dynamic defensive duo of shortstop Masyn Winn and second baseman JJ Wetherholt go on to win Gold Glove awards, they will accomplish something about as special as their play alongside one another during their first season together.
Winn and Wetherholt, named Gold Glove finalists at their respective positions on Wednesday, are trying to become just the 25th double play combination on the same team to win top defensive honors in the same season in the history of the award (since 1957). For Winn, 24, and Wetherholt, 23, it could be just the start of a dominant defensive run in the middle of the Cardinals' infield for the next decade.
Advertisement
Winn, who snagged the first of what could be several Gold Gloves in 2025, led all National League shortstops in Outs Above Average in 2026. Meanwhile, Wetherholt set a new rookie record in Outs Above Average (25) – one behind MLB leader Pete Crow-Armstrong (26). Also, Winn had the best arm strength of any middle infielder in MLB (94.4 mph), while Wetherholt was credited with a whopping 19 Runs Prevented in 2026.
Winn and Wetherholt combined to turn 50 double plays together in 2026. Winn's 91 total double plays were tied for the second-most in MLB, trailing only the 94 turned by Arizona's Geraldo Perdomo. Wetherholt's 82 total double plays were the fourth most in MLB.
If Winn and Wetherhold can capture Gold Gloves when the winners are announced on Nov. 1, they can join some of the slickest fielding middle infielders in the history of the game.
Advertisement
Teams have swept Gold Gloves at second base and shortstop 24 times, most recently by Chicago Cubs' shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner in 2023.
Seven Gold Glove duos have included at least one Hall of Fame player, with 1959 White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox and shortstop Luis Aparicio both being Hall of Famers.
Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter and second baseman Robinson Cano both won Gold Gloves while playing for the Yankees in 2010. Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar teamed with Omar Vizquel to win three straight Gold Gloves while playing for the Cleveland Indians from 1999-01. Another Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell teamed with Lou Whitaker to sweep the Gold Gloves in 1983 and '84 while playing for the Tigers.
In the National League, Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan teamed with Dave Concepcion to win Gold Gloves four straight seasons from 1974-77. Also, eight-time Gold Glover and Hall of Famer Bill Mazerowski teamed with Gene Alley in 1966 and '67 to sweep the middle infield Gold Gloves for the Pirates.
Edgar Renteria, who was inducted into the Cardinals' Hall of Fame in 2025, teamed up with Fernando Vina to sweep the middle infield Gold Gloves in 2002 – the only time a Cards' shortstop and second baseman won the defensive honors in the same season. Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith won 13 straight Gold Gloves from 1980-92, but no Cardinals second baseman could crack the Gold Glove stranglehold of Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg (nine straight Gold Gloves from 1983-91).
Advertisement
The only player has ever swept Gold Gloves with two different middle-infielder teammates. Orioles' legendary shortstop Mark Belanger, a six-time defensive award winner, teamed with second baseman Davey Johnson to sweep the Gold Gloves in 1969 and '71. Belanger then teamed with Baltimore second baseman Bobby Grich to sweep the Gold Gloves four straight years from 1973-76.
