Matt Olson headlines MLB’s 2026 Fielding Bible Awards as best defender by position is crowned

Olson earns his sixth Fielding Bible Award at first base, while a separate vote across all positions names Pete Crow-Armstrong as Player of the Year and the Cubs capture Team of the Year.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The 2026 Fielding Bible Awards, presented to MLB’s top defender at each position plus additional honors, were announced Thursday by Sports Info Solutions and MLB. The awards include a catcher, infielders at first through third and shortstop, three outfield spots, a pitcher, a multi-position winner, a Player of the Year, and a Defensive Team of the Year.

Matt Olson of the Braves won at first base for the sixth time, surpassing Albert Pujols for the most Fielding Bible Awards at that position. The Fielding Bible vote placed Olson ahead in what the announcement described as a tight matchup with the Padres’ Ty France.

On the infield, the winners were Brice Turang at second base, Alex Bregman at third base, and Taylor Walls at shortstop. Turang’s win comes after being second in the majors in 2026 with 23 defensive runs saved, while Bregman led all third basemen with 15 defensive runs saved to win his first Fielding Bible Award. Walls, who recorded 21 defensive runs saved, led the position and took Tampa Bay’s first Fielding Bible at shortstop since 2020.

In the outfield, Cody Bellinger won left field, Ceddanne Rafaela won center field through a defensive runs saved tiebreaker, and Wilyer Abreu won right field for a second time. The announcement says Abreu led all of MLB with 28 defensive runs saved in 2026 and received his second Fielding Bible Award.

For the remaining honors, Tanner Bibee of the Guardians won the pitcher Fielding Bible Award for the second time, Zach McKinstry of the Tigers took the multi-position award, Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs won Player of the Year, and the Cubs were named Team of the Year. The Cubs’ team defense was described as leading the league with 115 defensive runs saved.

Why It Matters

The awards highlight the league’s best defensive run prevention at every spot, which helps frame how teams value fielding in overall team building.
Olson’s sixth first-base win reinforces how consistent elite defense can stand out even in a crowded results-driven MVP conversation.
The Cubs’ Team of the Year adds another defensive benchmark for a franchise known for depth and lineup stability.
Separately, the Player of the Year voting and the position awards can go to different players, underscoring that defensive value can be measured in multiple ways.

Sources

Key Facts

The 2026 Fielding Bible Awards select one top defender at each of nine positions plus additional categories.
Matt Olson won his sixth Fielding Bible Award at first base and has surpassed Albert Pujols for the most at the position.
Brice Turang won at second base after ranking second in MLB in 2026 defensive runs saved with 23.
Alex Bregman won at third base after leading all third basemen with 15 defensive runs saved.
Taylor Walls won at shortstop with 21 defensive runs saved, topping the field at the position.
Ceddanne Rafaela won center field on a defensive runs saved tiebreaker despite a vote split with Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The Cubs won Team of the Year after the announcement credited them with 115 defensive runs saved in the regular season.