The best team defense in Major League Baseball this year has earned individual recognition for multiple players.
The Chicago Cubs have five Gold Glove Award finalists, announced Wednesday by Rawlings: center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, third baseman Alex Bregman, shortstop Dansby Swanson, left fielder Ian Happ and right fielder Seiya Suzuki.
Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth also is a finalist. The winners will be announced Nov. 1 (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Crow-Armstrong, who is expected to be named the National League MVP next month, is looking to win his second straight Gold Glove. He produced arguably the best defensive season by a center fielder in the Statcast era, leading all major-league outfielders with 26 outs above average (OAA) and a 26 fielding run value (FRV) while converting 50% of five-star catch opportunities.
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Happ is in position for his fifth consecutive Gold Glove, something no Cub has done since Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg won nine straight from 1983-91. Happ’s nine outfield assists tied for the NL lead.
Suzuki’s defense has come a long way since he debuted with the Cubs in 2022. At times a defensive liability in right field — even relegated to the designated hitter role last year with Kyle Tucker getting most of the starts in right — Suzuki put in the work this year to be better.
That effort became obvious over the course of the season. Suzuki recorded eight outfield assists while posting a .992 fielding percentage, tied for the NL best at his position. His 8 FRV was tied with the Tampa Bay Rays’ Victor Mesa Jr. for first among major-league right fielders, and Suzuki’s 14 defensive runs saved (DRS) led the NL at his position.
A rough first two weeks defensively didn’t stop Bregman from again being one of the best third basemen. Bregman, who won a Gold Glove in 2024 with the Houston Astros, logged the fourth-most innings at third this year and tallied the most assists by an NL third baseman. His 7 FRV was tied for second-best, and he led all big-league third basemen with 15 DRS — one of only two at his position to record double-digit DRS.
Despite missing four weeks late in the season because of an oblique strain, Swanson could win his third Gold Glove and first since 2023. Among NL shortstops, he finished tied for second in OAA (16), third in FRV (12) and fourth in DRS (6).
Meidroth is in the running for his first Gold Glove. He played 150 games at second and led American League second basemen in FRV (10). He also ranked third among AL second basemen in OAA (9) and fielding percentage (.986).
To determine the winners, each team’s manager and up to six coaches on each staff vote from a pool of qualified players in their league, though they can’t vote for players from their team. In 2013, Rawlings added the SABR Defensive Index (SDI) to the selection process. The overall total comprises 75% managers’ and coaches’ votes and 25% SDI ratings.
Tribune reporter LaMond Pope contributed.