Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia win Gold Glove Awards

The Royals love the glove.

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The Royals love to pride themselves on their defense, and this year, two infielders were recognized for being the best. Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia each won Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence, as Rawlings Baseball announced its 2025 winners on Sunday evening.

Bobby Witt Jr. won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award, becoming the first multiple-award-winning shortstop in club history. Bobby tied Pete Crow-Armstrong to lead all players in Outs Above Average this season at +24 and was

third among all players in Defensive Runs Above Average. He beat out Taylor Walls of the Rays and Corey Seager of the Rangers to take home the award.

Maikel Garcia won his first Gold Glove Award in his first year as a finalist. Garcia was eighth among all players in Outs Above Average and led all American League third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved. Garcia was named the winner over Ernie Clement of the Blue Jays and José Ramírez of the Guardians. George Brett is the only other Royals third baseman to ever win the award. Garcia and Witt are the 18th teammates to win awards at shortstop and third, and the first since JJ Hardy and Manny Machado won them for the Orioles in 2013.

Kyle Isbel was also a finalist in centerfield, but lost out to Boston’s Cedanne Rafaela. Isbel was +12 in Outs Above Average, fourth-best among American League centerfielders. He was also fourth in Defensive Runs Saved at +9.

Here is how Gold Glove winners are determined, according to MLB.com:

To determine the winners at the nine standard positions, the 30 MLB managers and up to six coaches from each team vote from a pool of players in their league, excluding players from their own team. These votes comprise 75% of the selection total, with the SABR Defensive Index counting for the other 25%.

For the utility position, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to create a specialized defensive formula separate from the traditional selection process.

Royals Gold Glove winners

1971: Amos Otis

1973: Amos Otis

1974: Amos Otis

1977: Frank White and Al Cowens

1978: Frank White

1979: Frank White

1980: Frank White and Willie Wilson

1981: Frank White

1982: Frank White

1985: George Brett

1986: Frank White