The Gold Glove Awards are a big deal in baseball. They are about which players put up stellar defensive numbers. This year, the Atlanta Braves have two key players, first baseman Matt Olson and pitcher Chris Sale, who were nominated as finalists for these prestigious awards.
Let’s start with Matt Olson. It’ll be his third career win if Olson takes home the Gold Glove at first base. Winning would further solidify his reputation as one of the league’s top defensive first basemen. Olson has already won the award twice, in 2018 and 2019, while playing for Oakland Athletics. In 2024, he continued his elite performance, posting a stunning .996 fielding percentage.
That means he committed only six errors throughout an entire season. That’s 162 games, 1,443 1/3 innings, to be precise. But the real eye-opener? He led the entire MLB with 14 defensive runs saved (DRS). That’s a wide gap from the runner-up, who had just eight. His competition this time? Big names like Bryce Harper from the Phillies and Christian Walker from the Diamondbacks. And if Olson wins, it’ll be historic. The Braves have never had a first baseman win a Gold Glove before, making this a huge moment for the franchise.
On the pitching side, we have Chris Sale, a seasoned arm but a first-time Gold Glove finalist since 2017. Sale is seeking his first career win, and while he’s known more for his pitching dominance, his defensive play on the mound has earned him recognition this season.
He’s tied for sixth among pitchers with six DRS, putting him in the running against last year’s winner, the Phillies’ Zach Wheeler, and Mets pitcher Luis Severino. Not only would this be Sale’s first Gold Glove, but it would also continue the Braves’ impressive history of producing stellar fielding pitchers.
Just think about the dynasty at this position. Max Fried has won three consecutive Gold Gloves from 2020 to 2023. Before him, legends like Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, and Mike Hampton owned this award. Adding Sale’s name to that list would only boost the Braves’ reputation as a powerhouse for defensive pitchers.
Both Olson and Sale are looking to add to their legacies. For the Braves, even more hardware will be added to the collection. We’ll find out on November 3 when ESPN’s Baseball Tonight broadcasts the announcement of the winners.
