By the end of the 2026 season, it was clear to much of the baseball world that the best second baseman in the American League played on the South Side of Chicago.
In his age-25 season, Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth took a huge leap forward, establishing himself as one of the most well-rounded players on his team and one of the most undervalued players in baseball.
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Meidroth finished the season with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .765 OPS for the White Sox. He also posted 4.5 fWAR, leading all American League second basemen by a wide margin.
But his offensive production only tells part of the story.
Meidroth also finished first among AL second basemen in Fielding Run Value (10) and third in Outs Above Average (8). That’s game-changing defense, and it’s finally being recognized on a national stage.
Meidroth has been named one of three finalists for the American League Gold Glove Award at second base, joining Michael Massey of the Kansas City Royals and Cole Young of the Seattle Mariners.
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“While Massey had the edge in OAA, it was Meidroth who led all AL second basemen with a +10 FRV. Meidroth spent a majority of his time at shortstop as a rookie in 2025 (and still graded out as a plus defender in limited action there in ’26), but he proved to be excellent at the keystone in his second season,” wrote MLB.com in its breakdown of the award race.
The competition is interesting, particularly because different defensive metrics paint different pictures of the three finalists.
Young, for example, ranked eighth in baseball in Defensive Runs Saved but graded out as one of the worst second basemen in the sport according to Outs Above Average.
That discrepancy could be one of several factors working in Meidroth’s favor when the winner is selected.
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Among the three finalists, Meidroth had the highest defensive fWAR and the best Fielding Run Value. He was also neck and neck with Massey in Outs Above Average, further strengthening his case as the most complete defensive second baseman in the American League.
Meidroth consistently made an impact with his glove while also playing an important everyday role for a playoff team. Neither of the other finalists can make that same claim about their team’s postseason success.
And while the Gold Glove Award is based on defensive performance, there’s something to be said about the consistency and reliability Meidroth brought to the White Sox throughout a remarkable 2026 season.
In due time, I think we’ll see Chase Meidroth receive the recognition he deserves as one of baseball’s emerging stars.
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He has a legitimate chance to become an American League All-Star in 2027, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s soon regarded as one of the best all-around second basemen in Major League Baseball.
Winning his first Gold Glove Award would be an excellent place to start.
The winners will be announced live on ESPN on November 1.