When Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts eventually calls it a career, is it possible the eventual first-ballot Hall of Famer will still be underrated? Betts provided even more evidence in support of that theory Wednesday, when he was announced as a finalist for a Gold Glove award.
Betts was one of many players to land among the finalists for the award. MLB announced the top-3 at each position Wednesday. The winners will be announced on ESPN on Nov. 2.
While other notable players made the cut — Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero stand out — Betts’ inclusion says a lot about his immense talent.
Betts — who already has six Gold Gloves as an outfielder — managed to land among the finalist at shortstop. He did so despite being 33 years old, and not being a regular at the position until 2024.
Betts came into the 2024 MLB season as the Dodgers’ starting second baseman. But when Gavin Lux struggled in spring training, the team moved Betts to short. He played 65 games at the position last season, though did not grade out well according to the advanced metrics.
Determined to get better, Betts worked hard to improve as a defender over the offseason. That decision paid off. After ranking as one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball in 2024, Betts turned himself into an above-average defender at the league’s hardest position in 2025, per FanGraphs.
Here’s how the rest of the National League Gold Glove finalists shook out:
While Betts deserves plenty of credit for the turnaround, winning the award could prove difficult. The other two finalists at shortstop in the National League — St. Louis Cardinals star Masyn Winn and Atlanta Braves standout Nick Allen — both ranked much higher than Betts according to the advanced metrics.
The fact that Betts even received a finalist nod, however, speaks to his incredible drive and athleticism.
Over in the American League, both Ramírez and Guerrero are among the biggest names vying for a Gold Glove.
Guerrero has won the award before, taking home a Gold Glove in 2022, his third season at the position. Ramírez, meanwhile, has contended for the award in the past, but has yet to win a Gold Glove.
Here’s how the rest of the American League finalists look:
The Chicago Cubs lead the way with six Gold Glove finalists. For Chicago, Ian Happ once again finds himself among the finalists. He’s won the award three times. The Blue Jays finished with five finalists. In addition to Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk and Ernie Clement are also up for the award. Clement, in particular, finds himself in a unique situation. He was named a finalist at both third base and the utility position, giving him two chances at bringing home some hardware.
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