THE APEX TIMES
Taylor Walls becomes the first Rays shortstop to capture a Gold Glove, leading all American League shortstops with 21 Defensive Runs Saved as the award highlights another season’s crop of first-time winners.
Taylor Walls’ defensive season turned into the AL Gold Glove at shortstop, with the Rays shortstop recognized as the best at his position across the American League.
According to MLB’s Gold Glove announcement, Walls led all AL shortstops with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, marking the first time a Rays player has won a Gold Glove at shortstop. The club’s prior Gold Glove at any position came from center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in 2019.
The Rays shortstop’s honor is part of a broader 2026 Gold Glove class that MLB said includes nine first-time winners for the second straight year. On the award front, the Diamondbacks and Red Sox also tied for the most honorees from a single team, with three players each.
MLB’s release also described how the Gold Glove is voted on: managers and coaches account for 75% of the total, with a sabermetrics community making up the remaining 25%. Managers and coaches vote only within their own league and cannot vote for players on their own teams.
Walls’ award comes as part of an overall set of position winners across both leagues, from catchers to pitchers and beyond, with each league awarding one honoree per defensive position.