KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four Kansas City Royals players are among the finalists for the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, recognizing Major League Baseball’s top defensive players.
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, second baseman Michael Massey, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and third baseman Nick Loftin were announced as American League finalists Wednesday.
Witt is seeking his third consecutive Gold Glove after winning the award in 2024 and 2025. He also earned the American League Platinum Glove last season, recognizing the league’s top overall defender. Pasquantino, Massey and Loftin are each finalists for the first time.
Witt continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s premier defensive shortstops in 2026. The 26-year-old started 140 games at the position and led all American League players with 24 Outs Above Average and 18 runs prevented, according to Baseball Savant.
He also recorded 326 assists, ranking third among AL shortstops, while committing just 10 errors. Another Gold Glove would make Witt the first Royals shortstop to win the award three times and the first AL shortstop to win three straight since Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy from 2012-14.
Pasquantino, 29, posted a .994 fielding percentage despite being limited to 108 starts at first base because of two trips to the injured list. He committed just five errors in 883 chances and helped turn 93 double plays, the fifth most among AL first basemen.
He is looking to join Eric Hosmer as the only Royals first basemen to win a Gold Glove. Hosmer earned four awards between 2013 and 2017.
Massey, 28, made a career-high 114 starts at second base and finished with a .990 fielding percentage. He ranked second among AL second basemen with 11 Outs Above Average and eight runs prevented, trailing only New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. in both categories.
Massey also helped turn 69 double plays, the second most among AL second basemen. A victory would put him alongside Frank White and Mark Grudzielanek as the only Kansas City second basemen to earn the honor.
Loftin, 28, earned his first nomination after playing six different positions during the season. He made 64 starts at third base, where his six Outs Above Average and five runs prevented were tied for the AL lead among players at the position.
Loftin also posted a .973 fielding percentage at third base, the second-best mark among AL players with at least 500 innings at the position.
He is looking to become the third Royals third baseman to win a Gold Glove, joining George Brett in 1985 and Maikel Garcia in 2025.
Gold Glove winners are determined through voting by major league managers and coaches, combined with the SABR Defensive Index, which measures defensive performance.
The 2026 winners will be announced Sunday, Nov. 1, during an ESPN broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. Central.