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Cardinals' Arenado Has Sights Set on Record-Setting 11th Gold Glove

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jacob Webb | Last updated May 29, 2025 2:36 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has already established himself as one of the greatest defensive third basemen of all time. After winning a Gold Glove in each of the first ten years of his MLB career, though, Arenado hasn’t won the award in either of the past two seasons.

With his defensive numbers being significantly down over the past two years, especially in 2023, many thought that age may have started to get to him. Now 34 years old, Arenado appears to have returned to his normal self defensively and is looking to reclaim that Gold Glove Award.

“That would mean a lot, and I would love to win [a Gold Glove] again,” Arenado said. “It would probably be the most special one if I could get that back again.”

Arenado was beaten out for the award by Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes in 2023 and Giants third baseman Matt Chapman in 2024. Early on in 2025, it looks like he’s going to be competing with those two once again.

Hayes and Arenado are tied with an MLB-leading six Outs Above Average. Behind them are Matt Chapman and Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, with four.

Arenado is MLB’s active leader in Gold Gloves, with 10 of them. He recently spoke about how after missing out on the award in each of the past two seasons, he thinks about it a lot more now, compared to when he was winning the award every year.

“When you’re in the middle of a season or in the middle of your career, you don’t think about winning that many of them,” Arenado said. “But then, when you lose [the Gold Glove], you want to get it back.”

While Arenado still has a ways to go before catching MLB leader Brooks Robinson, who won 16 Gold Gloves at third base, an 11th Gold Glove would make Arenado the all-time National League leader in Gold Gloves among third basemen, breaking his current tie with legendary Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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