Cade Smith Wins Minor League Gold Glove at Pitcher
The Yankees right-hander, a Double-A Somerset prospect, is among nine defensive award winners announced by Rawlings and Minor League Baseball.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
Yankees pitching prospect Cade Smith won the 2026 Minor League Gold Glove at pitcher. Rawlings and Minor League Baseball announced nine defensive award winners on Sunday, November 1.
Why it matters
The honors recognize defensive excellence across minor league levels and spotlight prospects who could reach the majors. Smith is the Yankees' No. 21 prospect, placing the award within a closely watched farm system.
Franklin Arias, Boston's shortstop, committed five errors in 117 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester while hitting 25 home runs with a .957 OPS. Caden Bodine, a Tampa Bay catcher, threw out 19% of potential basestealers and posted a .988 fielding percentage.
The players
Rawlings
Rawlings is a sporting goods manufacturer long associated with the Gold Glove Award, which honors defensive excellence at the professional level.
Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball is the governing body for affiliated minor league teams across North America's professional baseball development system.
Cade Smith
Cade Smith is a Yankees right-hander and the organization's No. 21 prospect, playing for Double-A Somerset.
The details
Cade Smith, a right-hander with Double-A Somerset, earned the pitcher honor among the award winners. Other recipients include Josiah Hartshorn, the Cubs first baseman who hit 23 homers and drove in 112 runs.
Timeline
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Minor League Gold Glove award winners announced
2026 season: Defensive award winners' performances across the year
Season Trajectory
The Rawlings Gold Glove program, which has honored major league defenders since 1957, now extends recognition to minor league players through this award set. Recognizing prospects like Smith signals how defensive development is tracked before players reach the majors.
Fantasy managers tracking prospects can note that Smith's Double-A numbers and defensive honors may signal his readiness for a Yankees call-up. Bodine's throw-out rate of 19% shows the catching position's influence on basestealing games.
The takeaway
Defensive excellence in the minors often predicts how prospects will perform at the major league level. Watching defensive honors alongside offensive stats gives a fuller picture of a player's future value.
Further reading
Explore more minor league coverage in the Baseball section.
