Just Baseball/WARmonger MLB All-Fielding Team for 2026

It’s a thrill to team up with Just Baseball to present our inaugural MLB All-Fielding Team for the 2026 season! The Gold Gloves are out, but we’re going a step further to name the single-best fielder at each position across all of Major League Baseball. 

A variety of defensive metrics are publicly available, yet this process isn’t one that can be cleanly calculated in most cases. The metrics have improved dramatically through modern baseball, but all are calculated differently and should still be considered estimates.

We’ll consider Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) from Sports Info Solutions to lead our infield analysis, Fielding Run Value and other Statcast data from MLB Advanced Media as the first reference at catcher and in the outfield, and Deserved Runs Prevented from Baseball Prospectus as a reference for all positions.   

Let’s dig in! 

C: Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

Let’s start with the easiest choice. And that’s no slight to other candidates; catcher defense league-wide is outstanding. Thanks to Statcast’s precision around the plate, we can quantify framing, blocking, and throwing better than ever before.

Dillon Dingler takes the crown here by a good margin. He was baseball’s top framer, the most valued modern skill from a backstop, but also near the top in Statcast’s blocking and throwing metrics as well.   

Defining Play: Dingler takes the pitch near the dirt and fires a dart to 2B to nail the lightning-fast Jorge Mateo. Just an 8% caught-stealing chance on this one from Statcast: 

1B: Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

Olson is on track to be known as one of the best defensive 1B of all time, as well as one of the most reliable. 2026 was no exception. Olson won his 4th Gold Glove at the position behind a strong vote from the MLB coaches, and he was best in baseball at receiving low throws according to Statcast’s new first base receiving metrics.

In this neighborhood, we believe 1B defense is quite valuable, and Olson is the best in the business.     

Defining Play: Olson’s receiving is elite; here he shows both tremendous reach and a great scoop to bail out Austin Riley: 

2B: Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers

Second base was the most controversial position for Gold Glove awards, largely because the nature of the position causes disparities in the most common metrics.

Youngsters like JJ Wetherholt and Cole Young had great seasons, but we’re going with Brice Turang at second base. Turang already has a Platinum Glove on his shelf, and he turned in another outstanding season this year with 23 DRS and 14 FRV.

Like most elite 2B, Turang could be a solid SS, and he made many of his best plays up the middle using his strong arm.

Defining Play: Turang uses his strong arm and athleticism to range past 2B and get the out at first: 

SS: Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays

Shortstop is a battle of the defensive metrics. Bobby Witt Jr. is the reigning Platinum Glove winner. Many other strong candidates, including Masyn Winn, Dansby Swanson, Geraldo Perdomo, and more.

But we’re going with Taylor Walls, and the baseball world got to see his magnificent glove in action this postseason. Statcast doesn’t believe he’s great, but that is mostly because he positions well and then makes all the plays easier for himself. Walls’ pre-pitch and post-pitch movements are both elite.

The other metrics love Walls, including DRS and Baseball Prospectus, both of which have him as the #1 fielding SS in the game. SABR Index, the Gold Glove stat compilation, believes Walls is the best in the game as well. We’re going to side with those and give Taylor Walls the award despite stiff competition. 

Defining Play: The classic Taylor Walls play includes a great “route”, quick transfer, and throw release, making difficult plays look easy. Here is a nice example to nail Dom Canzone at 1B: 

3B: Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs

Bregman was the best defensive 3B in the sport this season, and his top competition was his replacement in Boston, Caleb Durbin. Bregman won the NL Gold Glove on the strength of the top SABR Index score, and he led or tied for the lead among all 3B in DRP, DRS, and FRV as well!

A clean sweep left no doubt. The metrics reflect Bregman making just six errors with solid range, and impressive effort across 143 games. 

Defining Play: An experienced middle infielder, Bregman shows his creativity and athleticism to get the barehand assist on this unique play: 

LF: Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees

Bellinger could still play a capable center fielder, but he’s become a master of the cavernous left field in Yankee Stadium. He used his good reads and strong arm to amass 8 FRV and 21 DRS, both good for tops in baseball among qualified left fielders.

Cody could still handle CF capably, and we may see some of that next season in the Bronx, but for now he reigns as the best defensive LF in the game.  

Defining Play: Cody covers serious ground in his home LF to make a 40% catch probability ball look fairly routine: 

CF: Pete Crow-Armstrong

This may seem like an easy choice, but it’s not! PCA and Ceddanne Rafaela were, in my book, the two best fielders in baseball this season.

One has to win, and I’m going with the guy who was the best at stealing extra-base hits. Pete is breaking new ground annually for Statcast, he completes impossible catches and makes very difficult ones look easy.

PCA led all of baseball with 26 OAA and snagged eight five-star catches according to Statcast, his 50% completion rate is easily the best in baseball.  

Defining Play: Pete made the sliding catch in the gap to end the game, then waved goodnight to the St. Louis fans. Just a 5% catch probability on this ball from Statcast:

RF: Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox

Wilyer was marvelous in right field again for the Red Sox. He has excellent range and a great arm, which is important to handle the spacious RF in Fenway Park.

According to Statcast, Abreu’s average top arm strength of 95.3 MPH ranks him 5th among all outfielders with 300+ throws this season.

Wilyer finished with 5 FRV and 28 DRS, double the next-best qualified right fielder, Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs. Tip of the cap as well to Corbin Carroll of the D-Backs and Victor Mesa Jr. of the Rays, real contenders for the Gold Glove and this award next season. 

Defining Play: Wilyer loves a sliding catch, a play that allows him to keep his arm ready to fire. He didn’t need his arm on this one, but here he snagged a sinking liner to Rob McGonigle near the line for a five-star play: 

UTIL: Ezequiel Duran, Texas Rangers

Duran did it all for the Rangers, and he did it all well. He spent time at every position on the diamond except pitcher and catcher. His metrics were positive at SS, 3B, and in the outfield, the spots where he logged the most innings. 

Defining Play: Spending some time in CF, Duran makes a brilliant diving catch in the gap. Statcast measures it as a four-star play:

P: Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

One of the most valuable skills a pitcher can have as a “fielder” is limiting the running game, and Shota is a master of that craft. He uses good timing variance and deceptive moves to both deter base stealers and give his catchers the best chance of throwing them out.

Imanaga tied for the lead in Statcast’s pitcher stealing runs and net bases prevented. According to DRS, Imanaga is tied as the top starting pitcher and also leads the way in stolen bases prevented. 

Defining Play: All pickoff artists are constantly skirting the nebulous balk rules, and Imanaga is a master. Here he nails the runner after review: