Olson and Dubón Secure Gold Gloves for Braves
The veteran first baseman and utility player added to Atlanta's defensive record with awards recognized on Sunday.
By Lucas Murphy ·
Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubón received Rawlings Gold Glove Awards on Sunday night, marking the first time two Atlanta Braves have won the honors in the same year since 2022. Olson claimed the award at first base, while Dubón took the prize in the utility category. The recognition extends the franchise's defensive record, which now includes 12 Gold Gloves across seven of the last nine seasons since 2018.
The voting process combines input from field personnel and advanced analytics. Managers and up to six coaches from each team cast ballots that account for 75% of the decision. They are prohibited from selecting their own players. The remaining 25% is determined by the SABR Defensive Index, a formula that measures range, arm strength, and fielding reliability. A separate calculation of this index decides the utility winner.
Olson, 32, became one of only three active first basemen with four Gold Glove Awards, joining Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt. He defeated Ty France of San Diego and T.J. Rumfield of Colorado for the prize. During the 2026 season, Olson led all Major League first basemen in innings played by appearing in all 162 games. His defensive metrics placed him first in Outs Above Average and overall fielding run value, with both statistics at 12. He ranked second in Defensive Runs Saved with 11, trailing only France.
Dubón, also 32, displayed versatility by starting 75 games in left field, 51 at shortstop, 14 in center field, five at third base, and four at second base. He is the first Atlanta player to win the utility Gold Glove since Rawlings introduced the category in 2022. Dubón has won the utility award three times in the five years it has existed, including two times while with the Houston Astros. He is the only player to hold the multi-time record for that position.
Chris Sale and Michael Harris II were finalists for the awards but did not win. Nolan McLean of the New York Mets beat Sale for the pitcher's Gold Glove. Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs took the center field prize over Harris II. The full 2026 NL winners also included Gabriel Moreno, Brice Turang, Alex Bregman, Geraldo Perdomo, Jackson Chourio, and Corbin Carroll.
The AL winners included Tanner Bibee, Dillon Dingler, Christian Walker, Cole Young, Caleb Durbin, Taylor Walls, Cody Bellinger, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and Ezequiel Duran. The awards conclude the 2026 season recognition for fielding excellence in Major League Baseball.
Source: WBTV
