The Chicago Cubs led Major League Baseball with three players earning Gold Glove Awards for the 2025 season, announced on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, along with second baseman Nico Hoerner, were honored for their defensive excellence, highlighting the team’s standout performance.
The awards, presented by Rawlings, recognize the best defensive players at each position in both the American and National Leagues. The Cubs’ trio was part of a group of 18 winners, with Kansas City, Boston, and San Francisco each securing two recipients. This achievement underscores the Cubs’ defensive strength, as they had six players named as finalists in October, the most in MLB.
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s win marks his first Gold Glove in a breakout season where he emerged as an All-Star center fielder. Ian Happ earned his fourth consecutive award in left field, reflecting his consistent elite defense, while Nico Hoerner claimed his second Gold Glove at second base. Hoerner’s victory is particularly impressive given his recovery from right flexor tendon surgery in October 2024, demonstrating his resilience and skill.
Happ expressed pride in the team’s collective effort, stating, ‘We had an unbelievable defensive team this year. Just all around, I think we built off each other and kind of fed off each other and the energy, and it was a real source of pride amongst the group.’ Hoerner added that winning despite his injury ‘feels really good,’ emphasizing the personal significance of the honor.
Beyond the Cubs, other notable winners include New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried and Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, who also earned their fourth career Gold Gloves. Fried becomes the fourth Yankees pitcher to win the award since Mike Mussina in 2008, and Kwan’s streak of four straight to start his career is the third-longest in history, trailing only Ichiro Suzuki and Nolan Arenado.
The 2025 season featured eight first-time Gold Glove winners, including Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn. This influx of new talent highlights the evolving defensive standards in baseball and the recognition of emerging stars across the league.
Gold Glove winners are determined through a combination of voting by MLB managers and coaches—who cannot select players from their own teams—and the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) defensive index, which accounts for about 25% of the total. The utility category relies on SABR formulas and additional defensive statistics, ensuring a thorough and objective evaluation process.
Looking ahead, the Platinum Glove Awards, which honor the best defensive player in each league, will be announced on November 7, 2025. For the Cubs, this defensive success builds momentum for the offseason and the 2026 campaign, reinforcing their reputation as a balanced team capable of contending for future championships.