The Apex Times
Above the Noise
Scores
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
SportsNextScores and schedulesUpdating
Back to front
Steven Kwan is a Gold Glove finalist in center field for the first time, while Tanner Bibee also earns a nomination
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Oct 14, 5:14 PM EDT

Steven Kwan is a Gold Glove finalist in center field for the first time, while Tanner Bibee also earns a nomination

The 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists were announced Wednesday, setting up an ESPN reveal on Sunday, Nov. 1. Kwan is among the center field candidates after shifting more of his work to center, and Bibee is one of three AL pitchers nominated.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists include Cleveland’s Steven Kwan as a center field candidate, marking the first time in his career that he is vying at that position for the award. The same finalist group also features Tanner Bibee, a nominated AL pitcher, in a separate match of defensive evaluation among the league’s best fielders at that role.

MLB’s voting process uses a mix of ballots and statistics: 30 managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own teams. Those votes account for 75% of the total, while the SABR Defensive Index makes up the remaining 25% for the nine standard positions.

For center field specifically, the American League finalists listed alongside Kwan are Evan Carter (Rangers) and Ceddanne Rafaela (Red Sox). The Cleveland selection is tied to Kwan’s 2026 workload, with the award discussion noting he started more games in center field (77) than left field (65) this season.

The award group also reflects a broader defensive focus across multiple positions. MLB notes that the Gold Glove utility spot is part of the awards program and that Rawlings and SABR worked with SABR to build a specialized defensive formula for that role.

On the pitching ballot in the American League, Bibee is one of three finalists. MLB lists Bibee (Guardians), Jacob deGrom (Rangers), and José Soriano (Angels/Blue Jays), and it points to advanced defensive metrics in describing the competition among pitchers.

The winners across all positions are set to be unveiled on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1, after MLB announces finalists in advance of the presentation.

Why It Matters

  • Kwan’s nomination in center field is a notable positional shift in his Gold Glove candidacy, aligning the award track with how his role looked in 2026.
  • The finalists highlight how MLB is separating defensive evaluation by position and, for utility, using a different defensive formula than the nine standard spots.
  • With the winners tied to an upcoming Nov. 1 reveal, teams that have finalists in multiple spots are positioned for potential repeat hardware and broader defensive recognition.
  • Pitcher Gold Glove nominations like Bibee’s underscore that defensive value is being measured beyond traditional position players.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Steven Kwan is a 2026 Gold Glove finalist in center field for the first time.
  • Tanner Bibee is also a 2026 Gold Glove finalist, listed among American League pitching candidates.
  • The Gold Glove winners will be unveiled on ESPN on Sunday, Nov. 1.
  • Gold Glove voting combines manager/coach ballots (75%) with the SABR Defensive Index (25%) for the nine standard positions.
  • Kwan’s 2026 center field eligibility is tied to him starting more games in center (77) than left (65).
  • AL center field finalists listed with Kwan are Evan Carter and Ceddanne Rafaela.
  • The AL pitching finalists listed with Bibee are Jacob deGrom and José Soriano.