Ty France Wins Gold Glove At First Base

[Matthew Lenz]

Major League Baseball wasted no time announcing the 2025 Gold Glove winners less than 24 hours removed from one of the best World Series in recent memory.

While no current Minnesota Twins were finalists (was Buxton snubbed??), two former Twins first basemen were up for the award. On Sunday evening, it was announced that Ty France beat out Carlos Santana and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for his 1st career Gold Glove.

France, signed by the Twins last February,  is not typically known for his glove, but something changed in 2025. After posting six consecutive seasons of a negative Outs Above Average (OAA) to start his career, France produced 10 OAA this season between the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. The number ranked in the 96th percentile across baseball, per Baseball Savant. Additionally, his defense provided a Run Value of 7, which was second best of all first basemen, one behind Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves.

From MLB.com, Established in 1957, the Gold Glove Award honors the best defensive player at each position in each league. The voting process is made up of MLB managers and coaches (75%) and the sabermetrics community (25%). Managers and coaches vote only within their own league and cannot vote for players on their own teams.

The Twins are in need of a first baseman. Despite his hitting woes, should they look to bring back France? Let us know in the comments!

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[Parfigliano]

First Carlos Santana and now Ty France.  TC has found their developmental sweet spot in turning 1 year hire first basemen into Gold Glove winners.

Granted it's an off beat area to excel at but it's a start.

[DJL44]

They shouldn't bring back France. They should find someone else to turn into the next American League Gold Glove winner.

Buxton was not snubbed. Rafaela was crazy good, an Andruw Jones caliber season.

[FlyingFinn]

Hey, we've found an area the Twins are great at development/improvement with - 1st basemen fielding.

[tony&rodney]

France does a good job at playing first base but his range is definitely limited compared to some past first basemen. The reality is that the current pile of American League first basemen are not stellar. That said, I am hoping that the 2026 Twins have a guy at first base who can replicate what France did in the field.

Byron is still a decent centerfielder but he no longer is among the best at the position.

[Doctor Gast]

Congratulations to France! MN stuck with 1 yr. FAs Santana & France. Why didn't we work that magic with one of our own & have something to build off of?

[jmlease1]

I'm a little surprised, but France did field the position well when he was here. His range was a little limited (which is why I'm surprised; he wasn't exactly impressive tracking balls into foul territory and turning them into outs) but he did an excellent job scooping low throws (which was his calling card coming into the season) and did a good job handling anything hit at him.

Too bad he seems to be a below average hitter with no pop left in his bat now. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Considering what he signed for, France was actually a pretty good move by the Twins.

[lukeduke1980]

I thought he'd be back now not sure if we can afford him