Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. Named Platinum Glove Winners

The 2025 Major League Baseball Platinum Glove honors just dropped. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. snagged the titles as the top defenders in their leagues.

These two came out on top from the pool of Gold Glove winners. Fan voting decides the Platinum Glove, which always stirs up debate about whether it rewards true defense or just popularity.

Witt and Tatis both have undeniable talent in the field. Still, their wins keep the conversation going about how MLB measures and celebrates defense—and whether this award is about skill or just a popularity contest.

The Prestige and Process Behind the Platinum Glove

The Platinum Glove, introduced in 2011, aims to recognize the single best defensive player in each league. Unlike the Gold Glove, which coaches, managers, and stats help decide, fans alone pick the Platinum Glove winners.

Each year, the ten Gold Glove winners from both leagues become eligible. Fans then vote online to crown one overall champ for the AL and NL.

Fan Votes vs. Defensive Metrics

Fan engagement is crucial for MLB’s visibility, but relying solely on public votes brings up some questions. Some argue the process favors big names and popularity over actual defensive numbers.

Take Bobby Witt Jr.—he finished third in Fielding Run Value (FRV) and 17th in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in 2025. Those are solid stats, but a few defenders actually outperformed him by the numbers.

Fernando Tatis Jr. had even stronger numbers: sixth in DRS and 12th in FRV. That certainly backs up his win, but it’s fair to wonder if stats alone really drive these results.

The 2025 Gold Glove Class

The Gold Glove announcements earlier in November set the stage for the Platinum Glove. Those winners make up the exclusive group that fans can vote for in the next round.

American League Standouts

In 2025, the AL Gold Glove lineup mixed newcomers and familiar defensive stars:

• Dillon Dingler – Catcher
• Ty France – First Base
• Marcus Semien – Second Base
• Maikel Garcia – Third Base
• Max Fried – Pitcher
• Steven Kwan – Left Field
• Bobby Witt Jr. – Shortstop

These guys showed impressive consistency all season, giving fans plenty to think about when voting time rolled around.

National League Elite

The NL group brought plenty of defensive highlights too:

• Patrick Bailey – Catcher
• Matt Olson – First Base
• Nico Hoerner – Second Base
• Masyn Winn – Shortstop
• Ke’Bryan Hayes – Third Base
• Logan Webb – Pitcher
• Ian Happ – Left Field
• Fernando Tatis Jr. – Right Field

The mix of steady gloves and flashy plays made the voting pretty competitive—and, honestly, a bit contentious among fans and analysts.

Team Awards and Additional Honors

MLB also recognizes teams that shine defensively as a group. For 2025, the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers picked up the Team Gold Glove awards, spotlighting their organization-wide commitment to fielding.

The Late-Night Announcement Controversy

One thing that bugged a lot of people this year? The timing. MLB dropped the Platinum Glove winners late on a Friday night, which rubbed some fans and media the wrong way.

The low-key announcement seemed to downplay the achievement, making some wonder if MLB really values its defensive awards as much as the bigger, flashier honors.

Looking Ahead to the Future of Defensive Honors

The Platinum Glove stands out in baseball’s award season. It actually lets fans weigh in on who’s truly the best with the glove.

Witt and Tatis both deserve the spotlight. But let’s be honest, arguments over stats versus popularity aren’t going anywhere soon.

MLB faces a tricky balancing act. Should they tweak the voting to make the award feel more legit, or is the current mix of fan input and defensive stats enough?

For now, 2025’s winners are locked in. Tatis grabbed another Platinum Glove, and Witt finally got his first.

Both guys have shown they belong in the conversation about elite defenders. On the field, nobody’s really questioning their skills right now.

 
Here is the source article for this story: MLB announces Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. as Platinum Glove winners at nearly 11 p.m. ET on a Friday night