By MATT PIKE
The finalists for the 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove were announced on Wednesday, with a trio of Kansas City Royals among the American League finalists and two St. Louis Cardinals on the National League side.
For the Kansas City Royals, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr, the reigning AL Gold Glove winner at shortstop, third baseman Maikel Garcia, and center fielder Kyle Isbel were named finalists. It’s the first nomination for both Garcia and Isbel in their careers.
Witt Jr. looks poised to bring his second Gold Glove award back to Kansas City. The 25-year old leads all MLB shortstops with 24 Outs Above Average, preventing 18 runs. Witt Jr. would be the first Royal to win back-to-back Gold Glove awards since Alex Gordon won four in a row between the 2017 and 2020 seasons. Witt Jr is a finalist alongside the Rangers Corey Seager and the Rays Taylor Walls.
Garcia was nominated for the first time in his career during what’s been a breakout season. While Garcia showed massive improvement at the plate, hitting career bests in average (.286), doubles (39), home runs (16), and RBIs (74), he was just as impressive in the field.
Garcia was second behind the Reds Ke’Bryan Hayes among MLB third baseman in Outs Above Average with 18, the best among the American League, with 14 runs prevented. Garcia is a finalist alongside the Guardians José Ramírez and Ernie Clement of the Blue Jays.
Isbel is a dark horse among the Royals candidates, a finalist for the first time in his career, that many might not have expected but quietly had one of the best defensive seasons of his career. Among MLB outfielders, Isbel is sixth in Outs Above Average with 12, with 11 runs prevented. He trails only the Red Sox Ceddanne Rafaela (21 OAA) and the Athletics Denzel Clarke (13 OAA) in the American League.
Isbel is a finalist alongside Rafeala and the Mariners Julio Rodríguez.
On the National League side, for the second time in his career, and second season in a row, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is a Gold Glove finalist. Winn lost the Gold Glove last year to the Colorado Rockies Ezquiel Tovar.
This year, Winn looks in good position to take the honor home to St. Louis. The 23-year old Redbirds shortstop is ranked second among MLB shortstops, behind Witt Jr., in Outs Above Average with 21, with 16 runs prevented. Winn is a finalist alongside Nick Allen of the Atlanta Braves and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For the first time in his career, after becoming a mainstay in the Cardinals lineup this season, center fielder Victor Scott II was named a Gold Glove Finalist for the Redbirds.
While Scott II struggled at the plate at times, still batting .216 and driving in 37 runs, but striking out 111 times, it was his play in the field that made him valuable. Scott II was third among MLB outfielders, and National League outfielders, in Outs Above Average with 17, preventing 15 runs. He trailed only the Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong in the National League. Scott II is a finalist alongside Crow-Amstrong and Jacob Young of the Nationals.
The Chicago Cubs had an MLB-best six players named finalists, and the Toronto Blue Jays also had six nominations for five players, with Clement vying for the award at third base and utility. Winners will be unveiled on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 2.
