The Red Sox do have a somewhat solid foundation to build on. Case in point: The American League Gold Glove distribution on Sunday night.
For the first time since 2018, the Sox had three players earn Gold Gloves at their respective positions: third baseman Caleb Durbin claimed his first, while center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu were honored once again, earning their second and third, respectively.
Major League managers and coaches, voting only within their league and unable to vote for players on their own teams, account for 75 percent of the selection process; the SABR Defensive Index statistic accounts for the other 25 percent.
The following was the press release sent out by the Red Sox:
Since the award was founded in 1957, 26 different Red Sox have combined to earn 55 Gold Glove Awards. This is the fifth season in which three Red Sox players received a Gold Glove Award, first since 2018 (Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Ian Kinsler), also doing so in 1968, 1979, and 2011. It also marks the sixth season in which multiple Red Sox outfielders have won a Gold Glove Award (also 1968, 1978-79, 2018, and 2025), and third occurrence in which multiple players won at their respective position in back-to-back seasons (also Carl Yastrzemski and George Scott from 1967-68, and Dwight Evans and Fred Lynn from 1978-79).
Abreu, 27, led Major League right fielders in defensive runs saved (28), assists (13), games started (153), and innings (1,357.0). His 28 defensive runs saved in right field were most in the Majors by any player at any position. The Venezuela native also ranked in MLB’s 98th percentile in arm strength (95.3 MPH). Abreu is the sixth Red Sox player to win three consecutive Gold Glove Awards, joining Frank Malzone (three, 1957-59), Carl Yastrzemski (three, 1967-69), Fred Lynn (three, 1978-80), Dwight Evans (five, 1981-85), and Mookie Betts (four, 2016-19). He also won a 2026 Fielding Bible Award from Sports Info Solutions in right field.
Durbin, 26, led American League third basemen in defensive runs saved (13), outs above average (seven), and fielding run value (six), while ranking second in games started (147) and innings (1,302.0). The Illinois native led MLB third basemen in double plays (31) and assists (282). Durbin is the first Red Sox infielder to win a Gold Glove Award since Ian Kinsler at second base in 2018, and the second all-time to do so at third base, joining Frank Malzone (1957-59).
Rafaela, 26, led Major League center fielders in defensive runs saved (21), and American League center fielders in assists (eight), outs above average (16), and fielding run value (16). The Curaçao native ranked second in the American League in games started (133) and innings (1,174.1) in center field. Rafaela’s 21 defensive runs saved in center field were tied for MLB’s third most of any player at any position, and tied for second among outfielders behind only Abreu (28). He also won a 2026 Fielding Bible Award from Sports Info Solutions in center field, his second consecutive.
