Major League Baseball announced the 2026 Minor League Gold Glove Award winners Sunday, honoring nine of the top defenders in the farm system, according to MLB.com. Three of the honorees rank among the sport’s Top 100 prospects, a group that includes a shortstop who made only five errors across two levels and a catcher who hit .342 in his first full professional season.
The awards recognize defensive performance across the minor league system, spanning every level from Single-A to Triple-A and covering infielders, outfielders, a catcher and a pitcher.
The Main Development: Three Top 100 Prospects Headline The Class
Boston shortstop Franklin Arias, the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, led the group recognized among the 2026 Minor League Gold Glove winners. Arias committed just five total errors in 117 games split between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester while also logging reps at second base at the Triple-A level, according to MLB.com.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Josiah Hartshorn, ranked No. 35 overall and the top prospect in the Cubs organization, also earned recognition. Hartshorn made five errors at first base in 2026 but did not commit a single error in 21 games in center field, per MLB.com.
Tampa Bay catcher Caden Bodine, the No. 46 overall prospect and the Rays’ third-ranked prospect, rounded out the Top 100 trio. Bodine posted a .988 fielding percentage and threw out 19% of potential basestealers across four levels in 2026.
What It Means: Defense Paired With Offensive Production
Each of the three Top 100 honorees backed up their glove work with strong bats. Arias slugged 25 home runs with a .957 OPS, Hartshorn hit 23 homers with 112 RBIs and a .925 OPS in his first full professional season, and Bodine slashed .342/.410/.517 across four levels. The combination of defensive reliability and offensive output reinforces why all three rank among the sport’s top prospects heading into 2027.
Hartshorn’s season stood out for its pace as much as its production. The Cubs promoted him through three levels in 2026, and he is projected to begin next season back at Double-A, according to MLB.com.
The Rest Of The Winners
Six other players were also named Minor League Gold Glove winners. Detroit second baseman Max Anderson, the Tigers’ No. 10 prospect, played at Single-A Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo in 2026. Colorado third baseman Ethan Hedges, ranked No. 24 in the Rockies system, spent his season at High-A Spokane.
Cincinnati outfielder Carlos Jorge, the Reds’ No. 15 prospect, climbed from Double-A Chattanooga to Triple-A Louisville before reaching the major leagues in 2026. Arizona outfielder Druw Jones, the Diamondbacks’ No. 22 prospect, played at Double-A Amarillo. Kansas City outfielder Carson Roccaforte, ranked No. 17 in the Royals system, split time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. New York Yankees pitcher Cade Smith, the club’s No. 21 prospect, pitched at Double-A Somerset.
What’s Next
The Minor League Gold Glove announcement follows the major league Gold Glove Awards, which recognized winners including Christian Walker and Matt Olson, according to FOX Sports, and Cody Bellinger’s win reported by Yahoo Sports. Teams will continue evaluating roster placement for these prospects as offseason moves take shape, including Hartshorn’s expected return to Double-A to start 2027.
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