Three Red Sox position players just made the cut as Gold Glove award finalists, and if they all win, it would be a rare feat for the franchise. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela are both up for the award again after snagging it last year, and they’re joined by first-time nominee Caleb Durbin at third base. This isn’t just a casual nomination; it’s a shot at making some serious team history.
Wilyer Abreu’s Golden Glove Is Straight Up Dominant
Wilyer Abreu is a total wizard in right field, period. He’s already won the Gold Glove two years running, and now he’s a finalist for a third straight time. If he pulls this off when the winners are announced next month, he’ll join an incredibly exclusive club in Boston history. Only five players in franchise history have ever won more Gold Gloves: Dwight Evans with eight, Carl Yastrzemski with seven, and Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, and Fred Lynn, all with four each. That’s elite company. Abreu isn’t just a flash in the pan either. The dude led all major league right fielders with a mind-blowing 13 assists and stacked up 28 defensive runs saved. His competition for the award includes Toronto’s Nathan Lukes and Houston’s Cam Smith, but Abreu’s numbers speak for themselves. This guy is a defensive force that opponents absolutely hate hitting against.
Rafaela and Durbin Eye Their Own Place in History
Ceddanne Rafaela, who was a first-time winner himself last year, is back in the running for center field, and his stats are just as impressive. He led all American League center fielders with eight assists and racked up 21 defensive runs saved. But wait, there’s more: Rafaela topped all AL outfielders with 17 outs above average. That’s second *in the entire game*, only behind the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong. Talk about a lockdown center fielder! He’s up against Steven Kwan from Cleveland and Evan Carter from Texas. Then there’s Caleb Durbin, who’s a first-time nominee at third base. Yeah, he had a rough time at the plate in the first half of the season, but his glove? Never missed a beat. He was credited with six outs above average at third base, showing off that steady infield play. Minnesota’s Brooks Lee and Kansas City’s Nick Loftin are also in the running at third. Durbin would be the first Red Sox third baseman to win since Frank Malzone snagged three straight from 1957-1959.
This is a big deal for Boston. Should all three of these guys win, it would be the first time since 2018 that three Red Sox players were honored with Gold Gloves in the same year. That year, it was outfielders Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, plus second baseman Ian Kinsler. Before that, it happened in 2011 with Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Red Sox are listed at -194 on Kalshi to win the team Gold Glove award for the American League, so the betting world is watching, too. With winners being revealed next month, everyone will be waiting to see if these three can lock down a truly historic defensive season for Boston.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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