Ceddanne Rafaela was named the American League Gold Glove winner on November 1, 2026, adding another defensive honor to the Boston Red Sox's trophy case. The outfielder becomes the first Red Sox AL Gold Glove recipient since Wilyer Abreu claimed the award in 2025, making it back-to-back years that a Red Sox outfielder has taken home the honor. It is the 53rd AL Gold Glove in franchise history. For a player who has been on the active roster since late in the 2026 season, the award marks a significant offseason milestone.
Ceddanne Rafaela's 2026 AL Gold Glove: By the Numbers
The source data for this award does not include 2026 season statistics; the most recent verified statistical record available is from the 2025 season. Those numbers offer the clearest window into the defensive profile voters have rewarded. Playing 141 games in center, Rafaela posted a .985 fielding percentage across 332 chances, committing just five errors. His range factor per nine innings checked in at 2.52, and he covered 1,167.1 innings in the outfield. Those are not flashy counting stats, but they paint a picture of a defender who showed up every day and got to balls that others do not reach.
In a smaller sample at another outfield position — 24 games, 19 starts — Rafaela was even sharper. He posted a .958 fielding percentage with a range factor per nine innings of 3.76 across 165 innings. The range numbers alone tell you he was covering ground at an elite clip.
Context: What This Award Means for the Red Sox Franchise
This is the 53rd AL Gold Glove in Red Sox franchise history, and the second in back-to-back seasons. Wilyer Abreu won the award in 2025, and now Rafaela follows him in 2026. Back-to-back Gold Gloves for a franchise in the same award category is not something you take for granted. It means the Red Sox have now produced consecutive winners — Abreu in 2025, Rafaela in 2026 — a notable run however small the sample.
Rafaela is 24 years old and has his rookie eligibility well behind him — he has been in the big leagues long enough that this award is not a surprise to anyone who has watched him work. His combination of range and sure hands has been evident since he arrived in Boston.
Offense Provides the Full Picture
No Gold Glove conversation is complete without acknowledging that Rafaela also contributes at the plate. In 2025, he slashed .249/.295/.414 with an OPS of .709 across 156 games and 587 plate appearances. He hit 16 home runs, drove in 63 runs, scored 84 times, and added 34 doubles. He also swiped 20 bases on 25 attempts, an 80 percent success rate.
He is not a batting-title candidate, and his .295 on-base percentage reflects a hitter who does not draw many walks — just 28 in 587 plate appearances in 2025. But his ability to make contact and generate extra bases, combined with what he does in the field, makes him a legitimate two-way contributor.
What Comes Next for Rafaela
Rafaela heads into the offseason as a Gold Glove winner with his roster status secure. The challenge now is building on the 2025 offensive numbers — the most recent on record — alongside the defensive excellence that earned him this award. A .709 OPS is a reasonable floor for a center fielder of his caliber, but there is room to push that number higher — specifically by finding ways to get on base more consistently.
- 2025 fielding percentage in center field: .985
- 2025 range factor per nine innings in center: 2.52
- 2025 stolen base percentage: .800 (20-for-25)
- 2026 AL Gold Glove: 53rd in Red Sox franchise history
- Last Red Sox AL Gold Glove winner: Wilyer Abreu, 2025
The hardware is official. Ceddanne Rafaela is the 2026 AL Gold Glove winner, and the Red Sox have now produced back-to-back winners in this category. That is a fact worth noting as Boston looks ahead to the 2027 season.
