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Cole Young’s defensive season earns him an American League Gold Glove finalist spot
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Oct 14, 1:20 PM EDT

Cole Young’s defensive season earns him an American League Gold Glove finalist spot

The Mariners’ second baseman is among the three finalists at his position for the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award, an award decided by balloting from managers and coaches plus a defensive metrics component.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

A key question for the Mariners heading into the end-of-season awards picture was whether second baseman Cole Young would draw national recognition for his glove work. The answer came Wednesday, when MLB announced the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists, naming Young as one of the American League’s finalists at second base.

Young’s inclusion places him in a group of three defenders at the keystone, alongside Michael Massey of the Royals and Chase Meidroth of the White Sox. The winners are scheduled to be revealed on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1.

MLB’s selection process combines votes with a defensive metrics component. For nine standard fielding positions, managers vote using a pool from their league that excludes their own team, with up to six coaches per club participating; those votes account for 75% of the total, while the SABR Defensive Index makes up the remaining 25%. For the utility position, Rawlings and SABR use a specialized formula.

The statistical case around Young is tied to how different defensive metrics can tell different stories. MLB’s nominee breakdown noted that Young’s defensive run value and Defensive Runs Saved ranked among the better outcomes at his position, while another measure of outs above average ranked lower among qualifying AL second basemen.

For Seattle, the finalist spot extends a year-end narrative in which Gold Glove attention is focused less on one single stat and more on overall fielding impact. Young will now compete for a trophy that has been awarded annually since Rawlings and SABR finalized the modern approach to defensive evaluation.

Why It Matters

  • Gold Glove finalist recognition spotlights elite defensive value, which can shape how teams evaluate infield stability and defensive development.
  • For Seattle, Young’s nomination gives the Mariners another marquee defender to highlight during the awards season.
  • Because the award combines voting and a defensive index, finalist status reflects both reputation among evaluators and metrics-based defensive impact.
  • The Nov. 1 winners reveal will determine whether Young can convert a finalist spot into a first Gold Glove at his position for 2026.

Sources

Key Facts

  • MLB announced the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists, with winners set for ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1.
  • Cole Young (Mariners) was named an American League finalist at second base.
  • The other AL second base finalists are Michael Massey (Royals) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox).
  • For most positions, selection is based on votes from MLB managers and coaches (75%) plus the SABR Defensive Index (25%).
  • MLB reported that different defensive metrics rated Young’s 2026 performance differently, including one measure that placed him in the lower range among qualifying AL second basemen.