Rangers utility player wins first Gold Glove after covering seven positions

Ezequiel Duran has won the 2026 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for utility player. The honor recognizes defensive performance across multiple positions. Duran is the first member of the Texas Rangers to receive this specific category award since Rawlings introduced it in 2022.

The 27-year-old infielder and outfielder played a career-high 153 games this season. He divided his time among seven distinct defensive assignments. His workload included 57 games at third base, 53 at shortstop, and 37 at second base. He also appeared in left field for 21 games, center field for 18, right field for 14, and first base for three.

Duran became the only Major League Baseball player to start and finish a game at every position except pitcher and catcher. Fans gave him the nickname The Solution for his ability to cover so much ground. His versatility allowed him to record 17 outs above average, a total that tied for the sixth-highest mark in the league. He posted 11 outs above average at shortstop, ranking fourth in the American League despite only 49 starts there.

Duran is not the only Ranger who earned recognition for defense this year, though his peers in the race did not win. Pitcher Jacob deGrom, left fielder Wyatt Langford, and center fielder Evan Carter were finalists in their respective categories but fell short. Duran joins Marcus Semien, who won the award last year, and Adolis Garcia, Nathaniel Lowe, and Jonah Heim, who won in 2023.

The Rangers have now won Gold Gloves in eight of the ten current position categories. The team has seen five players win the award in the last four seasons. Duran brings the total number of Rangers players with the honor to 19. He previously played all seven positions during the 2024 season.

Rawlings will present the award to Duran and other winners at a ceremony in New York City. The event is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6.