Braves Defense: Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubon Earn 2026 Gold Gloves

Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubón each received a Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Sunday night, marking the first time two Atlanta Braves players won the defensive honor in the same year since 2022. The awards recognize the National League’s top fielders for the 2026 season, a distinction that cements the franchise's continued dominance in defensive metrics.

Olson, 32, captured his fourth Gold Glove at first base, surpassing Ty France of San Diego and T.J. Rumfield of Colorado. This achievement places him in a small group of active first basemen, alongside Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt, who have won four or more awards. His selection reflects a season in which he played all 162 games, leading the major leagues in innings played at his position.

Advanced statistics supported Olson's selection. He led all major league first basemen with 12 Outs Above Average and 12 overall fielding run value. He also recorded 11 Defensive Runs Saved, placing him second in the league behind only France. The voting process for standard positions combines ballots from managers and coaches, which account for 75% of the total, with a 25% weight given to the SABR Defensive Index.

Dubón, also 32, won the utility Gold Glove for the third time in his career. He is the only player in major league history to win the award multiple times in this category. Dubón made 75 starts in left field and 51 at shortstop this season, with additional appearances at center field, third base, and second base. He is the first Atlanta player to win the utility award since Rawlings introduced the category in 2022.

The utility award uses a separate calculation of the SABR Defensive Index to determine the winner, focusing on range, arm strength, and fielding reliability. Dubón's versatility allowed him to outperform other candidates in this specific formula. His previous two wins came while he was playing in the American League for the Houston Astros.

The Braves' dual victory extends a streak of defensive excellence that began in 2018. The team has claimed 12 Gold Gloves across seven of the last nine seasons. Last year, pitcher Max Fried and shortstop Dansby Swanson were the previous pair of Braves to receive the award in the same year. The 2026 season saw the Braves' defensive unit remain a central part of the team's identity, even as other positions were awarded to players from the Mets, Diamondbacks, Brewers, and Cubs.

Other National League winners included Nolan McLean of the Mets, who took the pitching award, and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs, who won center field. Gabriel Moreno of the Diamondbacks won the catching award. In the American League, the Rangers' Ezequiel Duran won the utility award, while the Astros, Red Sox, and Guardians each claimed multiple defensive titles.