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Assessing Andrés Giménez’ chances of winning his fourth Gold Glove
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Cynthia Ryley Delaney
Oct 24, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 24, 2026, 03:04 EDT
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For the first time since Troy Tulowitzki, the Toronto Blue Jays had a strong defensive shortstop.
While Andrés Giménez’ bat failed to make an impact last season like Bo Bichette the year before, Giménez showed he’s the far superior defensive shortstop. Despite playing just 753.1 innings at the position from 2020 until 2025, Giménez excelled defensively in his first full season at the position. So much so that he was nominated for the American League Gold Glove at the position.
Gold Gloves are nothing new for the 28-year-old, winning the award at second base in three consecutive seasons from 2022 until 2024, including a platinum glove in 2022. Despite playing just 719.2 innings at the keystone in 2025, Giménez was nominated for the award, though he fell short due to a lack of playing time.
This season, the Blue Jays’ shortstop is up against the reigning Gold Glove winner for the position, Bobby Witt Jr., as well as Tampa Bay Rays’ Taylor Walls. Let’s see how he stacks up against the competition.
If you missed the other Blue Jays up for the Gold Glove award, you can read about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. here and Brandon Valenzuela here.

Giménez’ 2026 season stats at shortstop

Sometimes, a player struggles to translate strong defensive numbers from second base to shortstop, but that wasn’t the case for Giménez. In 1,179 innings at shortstop, Giménez finished with 2 Defensive Runs Saved, 19 Outs Above Average, and 16 Fielding Run Value. He also finished with a .985 fielding percentage, committing just seven errors.
Of the three advanced metrics, OAA is the best at evaluating infielders (not including first base or catchers). Among the 11 American League shortstops who played 500 or more innings, Giménez’ OAA of 19 was second-best, five behind the leader. He had a strong FRV as well, sitting second with 16, just one behind the leader.
Giménez’ DRS was his weak spot, but he was one of just six AL shortstops with 500 innings at the position who finished with a positive DRS. In the end, his 2 DRS ranked tied for sixth.
When including National League shortstops, Giménez’ 19 OAA was tied for second, while his FRV ranked third. Only 13 of the 24 shortstops with 500 or more innings had a positive DRS, with Giménez ranking tied for 11th in all of MLB.
Unlike first base and catcher, there isn’t a Baseball Savant metric focusing on shortstop, third basemen, or second basemen, but Giménez was in the 99th percentile for OAA and averaged 85.9 mph on his throws, sitting in the middle of the pack.
The eye test backs up his strong metrics, but another thing going for Giménez is his track record. Of the three nominees, he’s won the most Gold Gloves in his career, and has been nominated in all five seasons since becoming a regular in 2022.

How Giménez stacks up against the other nominees

No shortstop in MLB had a higher DRS than Walls, who finished with 21, more than double Masyn Winn’s second-placed 10 DRS. What hurts the Rays’ shortstop is the other two metrics, finishing the regular season with a -3 OAA and -2 FRV in 1,036.2 innings. Both his -3 OAA and -2 FRV ranked fourth-worst among AL shortstops with 500 innings. Walls finished the season with nine errors, good for a .981 fielding percentage, tied for third-best in the AL.
His .981 fielding percentage was tied with Witt Jr., who committed 10 errors in his 1,209 innings at shortstop. Walls finished the year with a higher DRS than Witt Jr. ‘s 8 DRS, but Witt Jr. led all MLB shortstops with 24 OAA, five ahead of Giménez. He also finished tied for the league lead with 17 FRV.

So who wins?

Facing anyone else other than Witt Jr., Giménez more than likely takes home the fourth Gold Glove of his career. However, it looks like Witt Jr. will win his third consecutive AL shortstop Gold Glove. Like Giménez, he has a track record.
It’s not as clear cut as Dillon Dingler winning the award for catchers in the AL, or Guerrero Jr. winning for first basemen, but Witt Jr.’s numbers across the board are better. Walls could get some consideration as well, given his 21 DRS was tied for second among any position, but it’s Witt Jr.’s award.
Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.
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