Red Sox outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela were as good as gold in 2025, each earning prestigious Gold Glove Awards for their exceptional defensive performances.
This marks Abreu’s second consecutive Gold Glove win and the first of Rafaela’s career. It is also the first Red Sox season with multiple Gold Glove winners since 2018, when Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Ian Kinsler brought home a trio of awards.
Rookie catcher Carlos Narváez was a finalist this year as well; however, the defensive accolade went to Detroit’s Dillon Dingler when the winners were announced on ESPN Sunday night.
### Wilyer Abreu’s Defensive Prowess
Abreu is the first Red Sox player to win consecutive Gold Gloves since Mookie Betts, who also manned right field during his Boston tenure. Winning gold last season made Abreu not only the first Red Sox winner since Betts in 2019 but also the club’s first rookie winner since Fred Lynn in 1975.
Despite suffering an August calf injury that cost him over a month of games and prevented him from earning ‘Qualified Player’ status, Abreu’s defensive metrics stood out. His 15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) ranked second among all American League right fielders with 800 or more defensive innings. He finished in the 90th MLB percentile in Fielding Runs by Value (FRV), 94th in Outs Above Average (OAA), and 97th in arm strength.
### Ceddanne Rafaela’s Dominance in Center Field
Rafaela led all qualified AL center fielders with 20 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), with no other player even reaching double digits. This dominance made him a clear choice for his first career Gold Glove and the Fielding Bible Award, which he won on October 23.
To truly grasp Rafaela’s defensive dominance, you have to look at the broader landscape. His 21 Outs Above Average (OAA) outranked all AL outfielders and was second overall only to Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong (24). Rafaela ranked in the 97th MLB percentile in arm strength and 99th in both FRV and OAA.
His plus-22 Fielding Runs Value ranked second in all of MLB, trailing only Giants catcher Patrick Bailey’s plus-31. No other AL outfielder played to a FRV higher than 12 (Guardians’ Steven Kwan).
Rafaela nearly won his first Gold Glove last year as a super-utility player, despite some struggles in the infield. In 2024, he became the first major leaguer since the modern era began in 1901 to start at least 60 games apiece at shortstop and center field in the same season.
He is now the seventh center fielder in Red Sox franchise history to bring home the Gold Glove and the first since Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2018.
Signed to an eight-year, $50 million extension through 2031 with a club option for 2032, Rafaela has plenty of time to become the second Red Sox center fielder to win multiple Gold Gloves. Fred Lynn holds the franchise record with four awards earned between 1975 and 1980.
### Carlos Narváez’s Strong Defensive Showing
Speaking of Patrick Bailey, he was the only catcher with more Defensive Runs Saved (19) than Red Sox rookie Carlos Narváez, who recorded 10 DRS behind the plate.
Narváez demonstrated excellent framing skills, ranking in the 85th MLB percentile, while also placing 88th in Blocks Above Average, 95th in FRV, and 98th in Caught Stealing Above Average.
Although Dingler and fellow finalist Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays) caught more innings, Narváez tied Guardians’ Bo Naylor for the MLB lead in catcher assists with 58.
The last Red Sox catcher to win a Gold Glove remains Jason Varitek, who earned the honor back in 2005.
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With Abreu and Rafaela’s Gold Glove wins, the Red Sox have bolstered their reputation for defensive excellence, showcasing young talent that promises to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/02/red-sox-2025-gold-glove-awards-ceddanne-rafaela-wilyer-abreu-carlos-narvaez-mlb-news-offseason/