THE APEX TIMES
The 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced Sunday, and Cody Bellinger took home the honor in left field for a second career time after earlier winning with the Dodgers.
Cody Bellinger won the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for left field, earning his second career defensive hardware. The award recognizes the best defensive player at each position in each league, with voting split between MLB managers and coaches (75%) and the sabermetrics community (25%).
Bellinger previously earned a Gold Glove as a right fielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. In 2026, he helped anchor the Yankees outfield with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, which was tied for third in MLB.
The Yankees’ Gold Glove win also reflected measurable arm improvement, with Bellinger’s average arm strength rising to 93.3 mph, reported as the 94th percentile in MLB. He also finished with eight assists.
The 2026 ceremony featured first-time winners across both leagues, including multiple position changes and several repeat honorees. On the same announcement list, the Red Sox and Diamondbacks each collected three Gold Gloves, tying for the most by a single club.
Bellinger’s left-field award capped a strong defensive season and continued a Yankees run of recognition across the outfield, while also reinforcing how the Gold Glove process values both traditional fielding outcomes and advanced defensive run metrics.