It will be another year without a Gold Glove for Bryce Harper. The Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman came up empty again after the 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards were announced on Sunday, This was Harper's second straight season being named a finalist at first base.
Harper lost out to the rival Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson. Known as one of the best fielding first basemen, Olson picked up his third career Gold Glove Award, but only his first since joining the Braves in 2022. He last won in the American League in 2019 with the Oakland Athletics.
Harper was the lone Phillies representative in the Gold Glove Awards this year, after Trea Turner was confusingly omitted from the final three at shortstop.
Phillies' Bryce Harper still waiting for first Gold Glove after regressing defensively in 2025
Much has been made about his down offensive year, but Harper played just 132 games this season while dealing with a sore wrist. He manned first base in 130 games in just his second full season at the position after transitioning from right field. With just two errors in 1,132 2/3 innings, he posted a .998 fielding percentage, making 933 putouts with 71 assists.
However, the 33-year-old's advanced defensive stats regressed. Harper's +1 outs above average ranked fourth among NL first basemen and was down from +8 OAA in 2024. His -3 defensive runs saved, also down from +5 DRS the year prior, ranked sixth. Finishing with -1 fielding run value (FRV), Statcast's catch-all defensive metric, ranked fourth among qualified NL candidates at first.
It certainly feels like Harper made it as a finalist thanks to his name and star power.
Despite all of his accomplishments since debuting in 2012, Harper still hasn't been able to add a Gold Glove Award to his trophy case. The eight-time All-Star's decorated career has seen him win NL Rookie of the Year, two NL MVPs, four Silver Sluggers and an NLCS MVP.
Olson played all 162 games this year, the fourth year in a row he has played the full schedule for Atlanta. He played the most innings at the position, logging 1,429 while committing just five errors. Olson led all MLB first basemen with +17 DRS. His +9 OAA and +8 FRV topped first base in the NL.
The other finalist, Spencer Steer of the Cincinnati Reds, is also searching for his first Gold Glove Award. In just his third full season in the majors, the 27-year-old played 1,009 2/3 innings at first and made just two errors. He finished second among NL first basemen with +8 DRS and also tied for second with +6 OAA and +4 FRV.