Red Sox trio claims AL Gold Gloves
Caleb Durbin, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu earned the American League's top defensive honors on Sunday.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
Three Boston Red Sox players won American League Gold Glove Awards on Sunday.
The sport's top defensive prize went to third baseman Caleb Durbin, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, and right fielder Wilyer Abreu. This marks the first time since 2011 that three full season Red Sox players took home the award in a single year.
Durbin's path to the trophy involved a position change and two injuries. He reached the major leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025 but struggled initially at third base. After Boston acquired him at the start of spring training, the team experimented with placing him at second base before settling on the hot corner. Durbin played much of the season with a left pinky finger injury and a right foot injury. Both required surgery in October.
He led American League third basemen in defensive runs saved with 13 and outs above average with seven. He edged out the Minnesota Twins' Brooks Lee in both metrics. Nick Loftin of the Kansas City Royals was the third finalist. The last Red Sox third baseman to win a Gold Glove was Frank Malzone, who won three consecutive awards from 1957 to 1959.
Rafaela won his second consecutive Gold Glove in center field. He played center exclusively for the first time in his career after years of moving between the infield and outfield. His 21 defensive runs saved led all center fielders, with the next four players on that leaderboard in the National League. He also led the American League in outs above average with 16. He defeated the Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan and the Texas Rangers' Evan Carter.
Abreu claimed his third Gold Glove in three full seasons. He led all players across all positions with 28 defensive runs saved, though he recorded only two outs above average. The other finalists included the Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes and the Houston Astros' Cam Smith.
Durbin said the award reflects a no excuses attitude. He noted that many players fight through injuries to make plays for their pitchers. ESPN announced the winners. Rawlings has presented the awards after every season since 1957. Selections rely on a poll of managers and coaches near the end of the season, with advanced defensive metrics accounting for 25 percent of the vote.
The Red Sox will resume their schedule in December when they begin the 2027 spring training camp in Florida.
