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5 Blue Jays shut out of Gold Glove Awards, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladdy led AL first basemen in defensive runs saved, but errors and durability likely cost him
ByMatthew Sookram
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Sep 16, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) catches a pop foul hit by Detroit Tigers shortstop John Peck (not shown) in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Sep 16, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) catches a pop foul hit by Detroit Tigers shortstop John Peck (not shown) in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Toronto Blue Jays had five Gold Glove finalists this year, tied with the Chicago Cubs for the most of any team. When the winners were announced Sunday night, they didn’t take home a single one.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first base), Brandon Valenzuela (catcher), Andrés Giménez (shortstop), Nathan Lukes (right field) and José Soriano (pitcher) all came up short. The awards went instead to Christian Walker of the Astros, Dillon Dingler of the Tigers, Taylor Walls of the Rays, Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox and Tanner Bibee of the Guardians, according to Sportsnet. It’s the first time since 2020 that a Blue Jay hasn’t won the award.

For the second straight year it feels like the Blue Jays are getting snubbed during awards season. In 2025 Alejandro Krik (catcher), Guerrero (first base), Giménez (second base) Ernie Clement (third base and utility) and Lukes (right field) were all nominated. None of them won.

In 2026, Toronto finished second in MLB with a plus-45 fielding run value as a team. However, they also led the American League with 99 errors and that number may have been the determining factor in a few of these cases.

Of the five losses, Guerrero’s was the one that looked the most like a potential win. Even in a down offensive year (.260, nine home runs, 57 RBI), his glove was the bright spot. He led AL first basemen with 10 defensive runs saved, well ahead of Walker’s three, and he also finished ahead of Walker in outs above average.

To Walker's credit he posted a better fielding run value (7 to 5) and committed just three errors compared with Guerrero’s eight, which was the most among AL first basemen. That gave Walker a .997 fielding percentage, the best at the position in the league.

Walker also logged 154 games at first base, while Guerrero played 128 at first and another 16 at designated hitter. Walker, now a four-time winner could be on the Houston Astros trading block this offseason as the team looks to shed some salary.

Blue Jays' other four finalists had seasons they should be proud of

While the Blue Jays other four players also lost, they can still be proud of the season's they put together on the defensive side of the ball. Dingler led all catchers with a +17 fielding run value and 15 defensive runs saved, so there wasn’t much to debate there for Valenzuela, despite a +13 FRV.

Bibee led AL pitchers with five defensive runs saved and beat Soriano in the SABR index, 2.8 to 1.9, according to Sports Illustrated. And Abreu led all of MLB with 28 defensive runs saved in right field, which was going to be a tough bar for Lukes to clear considering he wasn't the everyday guy out there all season for the Blue Jays.

Walls, meanwhile, was clearly the best shortstops in the American League this year and led that position with 21 defensive runs while Giménez posted 2 DRS. But it was still a strong first full year back at shortstop for Giménez, who won three straight Gold Gloves at second base from 2022 to 2024.

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