Venezuela already has a Gold Glove guaranteed on November 1. Rawlings announced the 2026 Gold Glove finalists this week, and eight Venezuelan players made the list — matching the country’s own nomination record set in 2025. But the truly unprecedented piece: all three NL catcher finalists are Venezuelan, meaning a Venezuelan backstop is winning that award no matter what.
The Historic Trio: Moreno, Torrens, and Fermín Own the NL Catcher Slot
It has never happened before. In the entire history of the Gold Glove Award — dating back to 1957 — no country had ever placed all three finalists at the same position in the same league in the same season. Venezuela did it in 2026 at NL catcher: Gabriel Moreno (Arizona Diamondbacks), Luis Torrens (New York Mets), and Freddy Fermín (San Diego Padres).
The selection process blends votes from all 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches per team — worth 75% of the total — with the SABR Defensive Index, which contributes the remaining 25% using metrics like DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) and OAA (Outs Above Average). The fact that all three survived that mixed filter says a lot about the defensive talent Venezuela is producing behind the plate in the National League.
All Eight Venezuelan Finalists
- Gabriel Moreno — C, Arizona Diamondbacks (NL)
- Luis Torrens — C, New York Mets (NL)
- Freddy Fermín — C, San Diego Padres (NL)
- Javier Sanoja — 3B, Miami Marlins (NL)
- Ildemaro Vargas — Utility, Arizona Diamondbacks (NL)
- Jackson Chourio — LF, Milwaukee Brewers (NL)
- Wilyer Abreu — RF, Boston Red Sox (AL)
- Andrés Giménez — SS, Toronto Blue Jays (AL)
Abreu Chasing Three Straight, Sanoja in a New Spot
Outside the catcher trio, Wilyer Abreu is the most compelling story. The Red Sox right fielder led all outfielders with 28 DRS and finished first among right fielders with 13 assists. A win on November 1 would make it three consecutive Gold Gloves — but it’s not done yet.
Javier Sanoja arrives at NL third base with a strong case: he played 119 games at the position, logged 778.1 defensive innings, racked up 173 assists, and finished the regular season hitting .295 with 11 home runs, 69 RBI, and an .791 OPS. He won the 2025 Gold Glove as a utility player; winning it at a different position in 2026 would make his résumé even more impressive.
Andrés Giménez is chasing his fourth Gold Glove overall but at a new position — AL shortstop — where he’ll go up against Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and Taylor Walls of the Rays.
What 2025 Looked Like — and What’s at Stake November 1
The record being matched today was set on October 15, 2025, when eight Venezuelans were also finalists: Carlos Narváez, Giménez, Luis Rengifo, Maikel García, Abreu, Torrens, Miguel Rojas, and Sanoja. Three of them took home hardware: Abreu in AL right field, García at AL third base, and Sanoja as NL utility.
In 2026, the stakes are higher because one Gold Glove is already Venezuela’s before a single vote is revealed. If Abreu completes his personal three-peat and one of the three catchers wins, Venezuela could easily top its 2025 total of three trophies. We’ll find out November 1 on ESPN.
