Nothing is more important to the Boston Red Sox right now than their playoff push. With the Cleveland Guardians riding a ludicrous winning streak, nothing is set in stone as the final week of the season comes into view.
That being said, awards season is also nearly upon us, as the end of the regular season marks the voting period for most of baseball's major awards, including MVP and Cy Young.
Gold Gloves are also voted on at that time, and the Red Sox figure to be well represented there. According to MLB.com's latest predictions, Ceddanne Rafaela (center field) and Wilyer Abreu (right field) are the current favorites to take home the award at their respective positions.
Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu drawing Gold Glove hype in Red Sox's outfield
Abreu, the reigning Gold Glover in right field in the American League, has been stellar once again in 2025. His eight Outs Above Average (OAA) are two better than last year, while his nine Fielding Run Value (FRV) ties his 2024 output. His 16 Defensive Runs saved are one less than he posted last season, though it's worth noting he's played about 115 fewer innings in right field this season, mostly due to the calf injury he sustained in August.
While Abreu has been excellent in right field, Rafaela has been downright jaw-dropping in center. Though Alex Cora has messed around and played him at second base for 165 innings this season, Rafaela has still been arguably the most impressive defensive outfielder in baseball, save for maybe Pete Crow-Armstrong in Chicago.
He's got 21 OAA, FRV, and DRS across the board. Among all outfielders this season, each of those marks ranks first. In fact, Rafaela is the only player to cross 20 in any of those three categories.
It's hard to express how stellar he's been in center field this year, and there's a good chance he wins the Platinum Glove in the American League.
CATCH OF THE YEAR?!?!
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2025
CEDDANNE RAFAELA, WE HAVE NO WORDS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/D8c4TxLrpJ
Though the team won't have many other contenders — they may not even have another finalist outside of that outfield duo — the future looks bright on defense. Roman Anthony (six OAA) and Marcelo Mayer (three OAA) both impressed in their rookie seasons, and full campaigns in 2026 could put them on the radar for Gold Glove awards as soon as next year.
That also fails to mention veterans like Alex Bregman and Nathaniel Lowe, both of whom have won the award at their respective positions in recent years. It's unclear whether either will still be with the Red Sox in 2026, but they could form one of the better defensive corner infield duos in the sport if the front office elects to retain them.
With Anthony, Rafaela, and Abreu all under team control for an extended period, the Red Sox's outfield defense should be among the best in baseball for years to come. Don't be surprised if the latter two have some shiny new hardware this offseason to prove it.