The Chicago Cubs just proved they are the best defensive team in baseball. Five players made the Gold Glove finalists list announced Wednesday by Rawlings.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the list includes Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki. The White Sox had one finalist, Chase Meidroth, but the Cubs clearly dominate the conversation. This marks a huge turnaround for a franchise that used to struggle in the field. The numbers back up the hype.
Crow-Armstrong Is A Defensive Monster
Pete Crow-Armstrong is the reason this story matters. Statcast history likely contains no superior center field defensive season than his. The Chicago Tribune reported that he led all major-league outfielders in outs above average with 26. He also posted a 26 fielding run value. Those numbers are insane.
He converted half of all five-star catch opportunities he faced. That is a 50% success rate on the hardest plays. Per CBS News, he led the majors in outs above average and FanGraphs’ defensive runs metric. He is largely considered the best defensive player in the league right now. He aims to claim a second consecutive Gold Glove award. If he wins, it confirms he is the standard for the position.
Happ Chases A Rare Streak
Ian Happ is doing something no other Cub has done in decades. He stands ready to secure his fifth straight Gold Glove award. The Chicago Tribune noted that no Cub has won five straight since Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg won nine from 1983 to 1991. Happ had nine outfield assists this year, which tied for the eighth most in all of MLB.
Seiya Suzuki also made the cut, showing a massive jump in his defense. CBS News reported he recorded a +8 fielding run value in 2026 after negative ratings in his first four seasons. His +14 defensive runs saved place him second among every MLB right fielder. This is the kind of improvement fans dream about but rarely see.
Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson add veteran weight to the group. Bregman finished with +9 outs above average, second only to Manny Machado among third basemen. Swanson finished with +16 outs above average, a number better than all but three qualified shortstops. Per Bleed Cubbie Blue, these players have won a combined seven previous Gold Gloves. That experience matters when the votes come in.
The Real Test Starts Now
The winners will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 1. The broadcast is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
