Yankees’ Bellinger and Cubs’ Crow-Armstrong Claim Top Defensive Honors
Cody Bellinger and Pete Crow-Armstrong have been named the American League and National League Platinum Glove winners, respectively, capping a season defined by elite defensive performance for two of baseball’s most prominent young stars. The awards, determined by fan voting among Gold Glove winners, recognize the best overall defender in each league.
Bellinger, who plays left field for the New York Yankees, secured the AL honor on Friday. His selection makes him only the second Yankees player to win the Platinum Glove award since its inception 16 years ago, following catcher Jose Trevino’s victory in 2022.
Crow-Aarmstrong, a center fielder for the Chicago Cubs, took home the NL Platinum Glove. His achievement marks the first time since Anthony Rizzo won the honor in 2016 that a Cubs player has received this specific award.
Bellinger’s Statistical Dominance in Left Field
Bellinger’s path to the Platinum Glove was paved by his consistent excellence throughout the 2026 season. He led all left fielders with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, a metric that highlights his ability to prevent runs through range and positioning.
His defensive profile was further bolstered by a Fielding Run Value of eight, which tied for the position lead, and six Outs Above Average, placing him second among left fielders. Additionally, Bellinger committed only three errors during the season, demonstrating remarkable reliability in the outfield.
This individual success contributed to his broader defensive accolades. On Nov. 2, Bellinger won his second career Gold Glove award, beating out finalists Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers and Chandler Simpson of the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to that, on Oct. 22, he secured his third Fielding Bible Award, another testament to his standing among defensive peers.
While Bellinger dominated in New York, the competition for Gold Glove honors in left field was fierce across the league. In the National League, Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio won the Gold Glove for left fielders with 13 Defensive Runs Saved, showcasing the depth of talent at the position.
Crow-Armstrong Leads MLB in Outs Above Average
2Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defensive impact was arguably even more statistically significant on a league-wide basis. He led all of baseball with 25 Outs Above Average, a metric that measures the number of outs a player records above an average defender at their position.
His Fielding Run Value stood at 26, further underscoring his value to the Cubs’ outfield defense. According to Marquee Sports Network, no player in all of baseball was more impactful in the field than Crow-Armstrong during the season.
Additional metrics highlight the rarity of his performance. Crow-Armstrong recorded eight five-star catches, a designation for the most spectacular defensive plays, and prevented 23 runs through his glove work. His defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was listed at 2.1, and he finished with 16 defensive runs saved, which tied for seventh in MLB.
Crow-Armstrong’s individual brilliance was part of a team-wide defensive success story. The Chicago Cubs won the Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award for the National League for the second consecutive year. The Cubs led the league with 115 Defensive Runs Saved, posted a .990 fielding percentage, and topped MLB in Outs Above Average as a unit.
Broader Defensive Landscape and Future Implications
The Platinum Glove awards were just one part of a comprehensive defensive recognition season. The Toronto Blue Jays won the Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award for the American League, highlighting strong defensive performances throughout their roster.
Bellinger’s defensive prowess was mirrored by other Yankees players who received recognition. While Bellinger was a finalist for his position, teammates Austin Wells and José Caballero were finalists for awards at other positions. In those respective categories, Detroit’s Dillon Dingler and Texas’ Ezequiel Duran won the American League Gold Glove awards.
For Crow-Armstrong, these defensive honors add to an already impressive offensive case. He is currently a finalist for both the Silver Slugger and NL MVP awards. Winning both accolades would make him the first player in MLB history to achieve that specific feat in the same season, blending elite defense with high-level offensive production.
The convergence of individual awards and team defensive titles underscores a shift in how defensive value is quantified and celebrated. With metrics like Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved becoming central to player evaluation, players like Bellinger and Crow-Armstrong are setting new standards for what constitutes elite play in the field.