Winn Becomes Youngest Cardinal to Win N.L. Gold Glove

The torch has officially been passed in the National League, and the future of defensive excellence in St. Louis has arrived. Masyn Winn, the dynamic young shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, has captured the prestigious National League Gold Glove Award. Cementing his status as the premier defensive player at the position.

At just 23 years old, Winn not only earned his first career Gold Glove but also became the youngest Cardinal in franchise history to receive the coveted defensive hardware, marking a monumental milestone for both the player and the storied organization.

Winn Finds Success Through Hard Work

Winn’s triumph is a testament to the raw talent and relentless dedication that have characterized his young career. Since being drafted, the industry has buzzed about his exceptional athleticism and, most notably, his unmatched arm strength. Often clocking throws across the diamond that rival those of a starting pitcher. While his bat is still developing, his defensive tools have always been elite. Furthermore, in the 2025 season, his performance was impossible for voters to ignore.

The advanced defensive metrics paint a picture of dominance. Winn finished the season tied for third among all MLB position players in Outs Above Average (OAA), leading all NL shortstops with a remarkable +21 OAA. This statistic, which quantifies the number of outs a player saves based on the difficulty of the play. Had he not missed the final weeks of the season due to injury, he may well have paced the entire league in the category. His impact was so profound that the Cardinals finished with the league’s top team OAA, with Winn being the undisputed defensive anchor.

Young Shortstop Shows Massive Improvement

Beyond the metrics, Winn’s season was defined by a stunning blend of spectacular flash and quiet, consistent reliability. He had countless highlight-reel moments, ranging from acrobatic diving grabs deep in the hole to backhand plays up the middle where his elite quickness and phenomenal arm turned sure-fire base hits into routine outs.

Perhaps more impressively, he drastically cut down on the errant plays that sometimes plague young, high-octane fielders. In 2025, Winn committed a mere three errors in his 129 games, the fewest among all qualified shortstops, showcasing a maturity and consistency that belies his age. This massive improvement from his 2024 total of 18 errors is the clearest evidence of his defensive growth.

Winn Brings Home Number 100 for the Cardinals

Winn’s Gold Glove is not just a personal accolade, it’s the 100th Gold Glove in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals. A franchise that prides itself on a rich tradition of defensive greatness. Furthermore, it places him in the lineage of legendary Cardinals shortstops. Player like Dal Maxvill, Edgar Renteria, and, most famously, the Wizard, Ozzie Smith. The Wizard collected 13 consecutive Gold Gloves.

To be the player who delivers the century mark for an organization synonymous with defensive excellence is an honor that resonates far beyond the diamond. The celebratory video of Ozzie Smith congratulating the young star serves as a symbolic passing of the torch. Ushering in the next golden era of Cardinals defense.