What Happened?

on Friday night,MLB announced Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr. as the recipients of the 2025 platinum Glove Awards. These awards recognize the best defensive player in each league, considering both range and reliability. Both players had previously earned Gold Glove awards at their respective positions this season, making them eligible for the Platinum Glove consideration.

The Winners: A Closer Look

Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres, Right Field)

This marks the second time Tatis Jr. has received the Platinum Glove, having also won the award for his performance in the 2023 season. His transition from shortstop to right field in 2023 hasn’t hampered his defensive prowess; in fact, he’s continued to excel.He secured Gold Glove recognition in two of the three seasons as making the switch. In 2025, Tatis finished with 15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), tied for the most among all right fielders.

Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals, Shortstop)

Witt Jr.’s win is particularly significant for the Kansas City Royals organization. He is the first Royal to win a Platinum Glove since Alex Gordon in 2020. Witt’s exceptional range and swift reactions at shortstop made him a standout defensive player throughout the 2025 season. His ability to consistently make tough plays and limit opposing runners contributed considerably to the Royals’ overall defensive performance.

what Do the Platinum Gloves Mean?

The Platinum Glove Awards are considered among the highest honors for defensive players in major League Baseball. Unlike the Gold Gloves, which are position-specific and voted on by managers and coaches, the Platinum Gloves are resolute by a statistical analysis of defensive performance. This analysis, utilizing metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and Ultimate Zone rating (UZR), aims to identify the most impactful defenders nonetheless of position.

Winning a Platinum Glove signifies a player’s consistent excellence in the field, demonstrating a commitment to defensive fundamentals and a knack for making game-changing plays.

Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) Explained

Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) is a metric used to quantify a player’s defensive contribution in terms of runs saved. It compares a player’s actual defensive performance to the average performance at that position. A positive DRS value indicates that a player saved more runs then an average player, while a negative value indicates the opposite.

Timeline of Recent Platinum Glove Winners