After winning his first Gold Glove award in 2025, Cardinals' shortstop Masyn Winn shook off a slow start and has zipped to the top of most all defensive metrics. Winn is hopeful of winning a second straight award and moving closer to the 13 Gold Gloves owned by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith.
As eye-opening as Masyn Winn’s Gold Glove defense is on a nightly basis, the St. Louis Cardinals and manager Oliver Marmol didn’t gain a full appreciation for the shortstop’s truly difference-making play until he recently missed three weeks because of a fracture to his left thumb.
Suddenly, double plays that the Cardinals were used to seeing turned because of the firepower in Winn’s right arm were left uncompleted. Speedy runners started beating out slow rollers on the infield – something that rarely happens when Winn dials up 99.8 mph and whistles balls across the infield. And balls deep in the hole went for hits because Winn’s flashy glove and lethal throwing arm were on the Injured List.
In a weird, twisted sort of way, not having Winn for a stretch made the Cardinals appreciate his defense even more.
“They don’t just hand out Gold (Gloves), right? It’s real what Masyn does and he is an exceptional shortstop,” Marmol said of the player he thinks is worthy of winning a second straight Gold Glove this season. “There are double plays that aren’t supposed to be turned that we’ve gotten used to seeing turned. And there are plays that he gets to that others don’t – and if they do, they don’t have the arm to complete the play like Masyn does. That’s where Masyn is a lot of fun to watch when he plays.”
The Cardinals have had fun watching Winn back up the first Gold Glove of his career in 2025 with what they believe is another Gold Glove season in 2026. On top of the nightly eye test, the defensive metrics back up those beliefs.
In terms of Outs Above Average, Winn’s plus-17 rating is fifth in MLB and first among all National League shortstops. Since returning from the broken thumb, Winn has blown past Chicago Cubs’ shortstop Danby Swanson (plus-16) to take the NL lead among shortstops. In terms of Fielding Bible’s Defensive Runs Saved, Winn’s plus-9 rating is third among all shortstops and first in the NL, ahead of Geraldo Perdomo (plus-8) and Swanson (plus-5).
Winn, 24, doesn’t hide his excitement when discussing his defense and his desires to rack up as many Gold Gloves as possible.
“I take a lot of pride and defense is clearly my thing,” said Winn, who started slowly defensively, but has thrived of late while committing just nine errors in 541 chances. “I wish I had a little more (production) on the offensive side this year, but defensively I’m going to go out there every day and do what I do. Last year was a great year and I was able to carry it over into this year. It’s just about me helping the team win anyway that I can and defense is the best way I can do it.”
Winn’s overall Fielding Run Value is at 16, which ranks in MLB’s 99th percentile, per Baseball Savant. His range (18) is also in the 99th percentile, while his average arm strength (94.5 mph) is in the 97th percentile. While eliminating outfielders, Winn’s velocity on his throws from shortstop ranks first in MLB, ahead of Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz (92.1 mph).
Winn flashes his difference-making arm last week when San Francisco speedster Christian Koss hit a chopper to short and raced down the line. Winn’s throw not only beat Koss to the bag, but it touched 99.8 mph – the second fastest throw by an infielder since Statcast began measuring throws in 2015.
“Any time a ball gets put in play and then I see it hit Masyn’s glove, I know that he’s going to take care of it,” said Cardinals’ closer Riley O’Brien, who was on the mound when Winn threw out Koss. “He’s got an electric arm and a great glove.”
Because he plays the same position and for the same team as Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, Winn has heard the comparisons to “The Wizard” since he broke into the big leagues in 2023. Winn usually dines with Smith every Spring Training and the two chat from time to time and Winn considers himself lucky to have the mentorship of arguably the greatest defensive shortstop in the history of the game.
Winn said he won’t be worthy of the comparisons to Smith until he has more hardware in his trophy case.
“Everybody wants to talk about me and Ozzie Smith, but he’s got 13 (Gold Gloves),” Winn said. “I’m hoping by the end of my career I can at least cut that in half and get six or seven. That’s my goal for now. I want to go out there every day and be the best defender I can be, and whatever comes at the end of the year (in terms of awards) comes. But’s it’s always to be rewarded with some hardware.”
