Olson and Dubón Earn National League Gold Gloves
The Atlanta Braves secured two of the five defensive honors in the league on Sunday night, marking the second time in four years the club has claimed multiple awards in a single season.
By Alessia Romano ·
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson and utilityman Mauricio Dubón received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Sunday night.
The 32-year-olds were named the best defensive performers in the National League at their respective positions for the 2026 season. Olson defeated San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France and Colorado Rockies first baseman T.J. Rumfield to claim his fourth career Gold Glove. Dubón, also 32, won the utility award, making him the first Atlanta player to receive that specific honor since Rawlings created the category in 2022.
This marks the second time in four years that two Braves have won Gold Gloves in the same season. Pitcher Max Fried and shortstop Dansby Swanson achieved the feat in 2022. The franchise has accumulated 12 Gold Glove awards across seven of the last nine seasons dating back to 2018. Left-hander Chris Sale and center fielder Michael Harris II were finalists for their positions but were passed over by Mets right-hander Nolan McLean and Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, respectively.
Olson led all major league first basemen in innings played this season, appearing in all 162 games. He ranked first in the league with 12 Outs Above Average and 12 fielding run value. He finished second only to France in Defensive Runs Saved with 11. Dubón demonstrated versatility by starting 75 games in left field, 51 at shortstop, 14 in center field, five at third base, and four at second base. He has won the utility Gold Glove three times in five years, including two awards while playing for the Houston Astros in the American League.
The voting process combines input from on-field personnel and statistical data. Managers and up to six coaches from each team cast ballots that account for 75% of the total vote, with the restriction that they cannot vote for their own players. The remaining 25% is determined by the SABR Defensive Index, a formula that measures range, arm strength, and fielding reliability. A separate calculation of this index determines the utility winner.
The National League winners also include pitcher Nolan McLean of the New York Mets, catcher Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks, second baseman Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers, third baseman Alex Bregman of the Chicago Cubs, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo of the Arizona Diamondbacks, left fielder Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs, and right fielder Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In the American League, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee, Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young, Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls, New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger, Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu, and Texas Rangers utilityman Ezequiel Duran received the award.
