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The Yankees’ three most reliable defenders from start to finish have been rewarded for their efforts.
Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger and José Caballero were named American League Gold Glove finalists on Wednesday, the first such honors for Wells and Caballero while Bellinger has a strong chance to take home his second award when the winners are announced next month.
Wells’ competition at catcher is the Tigers’ Dillon Dingler and the Blue Jays’ Brandon Valenzuela; Bellinger’s co-finalists in left field are the Rangers’ Wyatt Langford and the Rays’ Chandler Simpson; and Caballero’s challengers for the utility spot are the Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran (an ex-Yankee prospect) and the Tigers’ Zach McKinstry.
Bellinger, who previously won a Gold Glove as a right fielder in 2019, led all left fielders with 21 Defensive Runs Saved this season. His six Outs Above Average were tied for second, trailing only Simpson. The veteran had been regarded as a quality defensive outfielder but took his game to another level in 2026 while mainly patrolling left field. He also mixed in some center field, right field and first base, but the Yankees preferred to keep him in left field as much as possible because he was so good there.
No one had Wells becoming a future Gold Glove finalist when he arrived in the big leagues in 2023 known more for his offense with some questions about his work behind the plate. But he has worked hard to not just shore up those concerns but enter the conversation as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. His eight Defensive Runs Saved were third among AL catchers while recording a Fielding Run Value of 10, which ranked sixth among all major league backstops. Wells was tied for third in Catcher Framing Runs and seventh in Blocks Above Average while catching the pitching staff that led the majors in ERA – with those pitchers consistently hailing his work behind the plate.
Caballero, meanwhile, appeared at six different positions this season: shortstop, third base, second base and all three outfield spots. He amassed a total of 12 Defensive Runs Saved, with his best work coming at shortstop (13 DRS), where he began the year as the Yankees’ starter with Anthony Volpe rehabbing shoulder surgery.
