Red Sox Land Three 2026 Gold Glove Finalists

The Boston Red Sox may have fallen short in the Wild Card round, but their defense earned league-wide recognition this week. On Wednesday, Rawlings announced the 2026 Gold Glove Award finalists, and three Red Sox players made the cut: right fielder Wilyer Abreu, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and third baseman Caleb Durbin.




Abreu Eyes a Third Straight Gold Glove


Abreu is the headliner of the trio. The right fielder has won the award in each of the last two seasons, and the 2026 numbers suggest he remains the class of the position. He led all major league outfielders with 28 defensive runs saved and paced all right fielders with 13 assists.


The competition in right field includes Toronto's Nathan Lukes and Houston's Cam Smith, but Abreu's track record and run-prevention totals make him a strong candidate to capture a third consecutive trophy. He also posted a career-best 24 home runs and 76 RBIs at the plate, rounding out one of the best all-around seasons of any Red Sox player.


Rafaela and Durbin Join the Finalist Ranks


Rafaela, who won his first Gold Glove in 2025, put together another spectacular season in center field. He recorded 21 defensive runs saved and led all American League center fielders with eight assists. He faces Evan Carter of the Rangers and Steven Kwan of the Guardians, both elite defenders in their own right.


Durbin's nomination is the story of a first-year success. Acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason, the 26-year-old locked down the hot corner in spring training and finished first among AL third basemen in defensive runs saved (13), outs above average (7), and fielding run value (6). He will compete with Minnesota's Brooks Lee and Kansas City's Nick Loftin for his first Gold Glove.




What the Nominations Mean for Boston's Offseason


Having three finalists is a genuine bright spot after a 84-71 season that ended with a Wild Card sweep in the Bronx. The Red Sox entered 2026 emphasizing run prevention, and these nominations validate that approach. Defense, as analysts have noted, makes Boston's offseason decisions more complicated: the club needs more offense, but it cannot afford to sacrifice the gloves that kept it in games all year.


Winners will be announced November 1 during a one-hour edition of ESPN's Baseball Tonight, airing at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. From there, fan voting opens for the Platinum Glove Award, which honors the single best defender in each league. Whether or not all three take home trophies, the Red Sox can head into winter knowing their defense was among baseball's best.

Location: Boston, MA, USA

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