Alex Bregman gives Cubs a Gold Glove case at third base

Alex Bregman's first Cubs season has put him in another Gold Glove conversation. Craig Counsell and Pete Crow-Armstrong both praised his defense in the Sun-Times' September 5 report, with Counsell pointing to his consistency on routine plays and accuracy across the diamond.

The report's statistical snapshot supported those assessments: Bregman had 13 Defensive Runs Saved, seven Outs Above Average and six Fielding Run Value. His DRS total was already a career best and exceeded the six he recorded during his 2024 Gold Glove season in Houston. Those are dated measurements, not final-season rankings.

Counsell described an uneven first two weeks followed by a much stronger defensive stretch. That distinction helps explain why Bregman's current case rests on his work in Chicago rather than simply his previous award.

The Cubs announced Bregman's five-year signing in January. His glove has since added another dependable position to an infield already built around Hoerner and Swanson. For a club trying to protect narrow leads, converting routine chances remains the everyday value behind the award discussion.