Brandon Lowe’s Uphill Battle To Win a Gold Glove
· Yahoo Sports
When the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Brandon Lowe last offseason, they hoped he could add some thump to the lineup. He did exactly that, crushing 35 home runs, the most by a Pirates second baseman ever, with an .824 OPS and 121 wRC+. Overall, he was one of the game’s best-hitting keystone players in 2026.
Visit sweetbonanza-app.com for more information.
However, they didn’t expect excellent defense at second base. Lowe had a career-worst season with the glove in 2025 with the Tampa Bay Rays, posting -13 defensive runs saved, -14 outs above average, and -10 fielding run value. He was one of just three players with negative double digits in all three defensive stats.
Brandon Lowe’s Battle To Win a Gold Glove
Brandon Lowe Didn’t Just Deliver With The Bat; He Delivered With The Glove Too
Lowe was recently named a Gold Glove finalist at second base in the National League, and it isn’t without merit. He went from one of the game’s worst defenders to one of the best. This year, he posted +13 defensive runs saved, +15 outs above average, and +12 fielding run value. Only eight players racked up double-digit positives in each stat. He was one of the few bright spots on a team that struggled defensively.
Even by standard metrics, Lowe was a defensive standout at second base. He racked up a career-high 363 assists at the keystone position, 61 more than his previous career-high set in 2025. That is despite the Pirates striking out 80 more batters in 2026 than the Tampa Bay Rays did in 2025.
Lowe Has A Difficult Job Ahead Of Him
However, Lowe faces stiff competition for the Gold Glove and may fall just short of the award. The two other finalists are National League Central rival second basemen. One is Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang. Turang posted similar OAA and FRV totals to Lowe, at +14 each. However, he well outpaced Lowe in DRS, coming in at +23. Only six fielders in 2026 racked up at least +20 DRS. The only other infielder to do so is Tampa Bay Rays shortstop (and fellow Gold Glove finalist) Taylor Walls, with +21 defensive runs saved.
Sep 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) looks to throw to first base after forcing Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Gary Sanchez (99) out at second base during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesIf that wasn’t already an impressive performance Lowe has to overcome, St. Louis Cardinals’ second baseman JJ Wetherholt put up one of the most impressive defensive displays from a second baseman in recent years. While he matched Lowe’s defensive runs saved count at +13, he also posted over-average numbers in outs above average (+25) and fielding run value (+23). Only he and National League MVP frontrunner Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong were the only players with +20 outs above average and fielding run value.
Wetherholt’s display at second base was simply historic. Wetherholt’s outs above average total at the keystone is the highest single-season mark since the stat’s creation in 2016, and not by a small margin either. D.J. LeMahieu in 2017 comes in at second place at +20. LeMahieu’s 2017 season is also the second-most fielding run value by a second baseman, at just +17.
Historic Defensive Season By A Pirates Second Baseman
Lowe’s season is still nothing to scoff at. No Pirates second baseman has ever racked up +10 or more defensive runs saved. Jeff Reboulet in 2003, as well as Josh Harrison in 2017, have the second-most DRS by a Pirates second baseman in a single season at +9. Lowe’s OAA total is also the best, with Adam Frazier in 2019 coming in at second place at +9 as well. Frazier’s 2019 season also saw him post the second-best fielding run value among Pirates 2Bs at +7. According to Stathead’s fielding run metric, Lowe’s +13 is the most by a Pirates second baseman since Johnny Ray in 1986.
Hopefully, Lowe not only returns to the Pirates in 2027, but also brings his excellent defense back for another season. He is a rightful Gold Glove finalist this year after a significant improvement following a down year in 2025. Even if he does not ultimately win the award, his season is still something to admire.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire- Imagn Images