Chicago, October 25, 2025 – The Chicago Cubs have etched their name in baseball history, earning the prestigious 2025 MLB Defensive Team of the Year award from Sports Info Solutions. With dazzling plays and relentless grit, the Cubs turned Wrigley Field into a fortress of defensive excellence, proving their mettle after a rollercoaster 2025 season. From Nico Hoerner’s jaw-dropping double plays to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s gravity-defying catches, this team didn’t just play defense—they redefined it.
A Defensive Masterclass at Wrigley
The Cubs’ 2025 season was a showcase of defensive prowess, with the team leading the National League in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and ranking second overall in MLB. Remarkably, they were the only team with positive DRS at eight of nine defensive positions, with right field as the sole exception due to injuries impacting Kyle Tucker’s usual stellar performance.
Nico Hoerner, the Cubs’ second baseman, clinched the Fielding Bible Award for his position, leading all second basemen with 17 DRS and saving an MLB-best 15 plays on balls hit to his right. “We didn’t chase glory—we earned respect,” Hoerner said, reflecting on the team’s defensive ethos. Meanwhile, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a runner-up for the Fielding Bible Award, dazzled with highlight-reel catches, excelling on deep-hit balls.
Left fielder Ian Happ, a three-time Gold Glove winner, ranked third among left fielders with the second-lowest baserunner advance rate. Pitcher Matthew Boyd led MLB with 11 pickoffs, earning third place among pitchers, while rookie third baseman Matt Shaw secured fourth in his position. This collective brilliance fueled the Cubs’ inaugural Defensive Team of the Year honor.
A Season of Redemption
After a turbulent 2025 season that saw the Cubs reach the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, defeating the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card Series before falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in a five-game NLDS, this award is a testament to their resilience. The team’s defensive synergy, as Hoerner noted, came from “feeding off each
Fans on X erupted with pride:
“The Cubs’ defense was a thing of beauty in 2025. Hoerner and PCA are unreal! This award is so deserved.”
The Lingering Question
Yet, as Wrigley Field basks in the glow of this historic achievement, one question lingers: Can the Cubs translate their defensive dominance into a deeper postseason run in 2026? With six players—Hoerner, Crow-Armstrong, Happ, Boyd, Matt Shaw, and catcher Carson Kelly—named finalists for 2025 Gold Glove Awards, the future looks golden. Will this defensive dynasty propel the Cubs back to World Series glory?
Conclusion
The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 Defensive Team of the Year award is more than an accolade—it’s a story of redemption, teamwork, and unrelenting hustle. As Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and their teammates continue to shine, Wrigley Field remains a stage for baseball’s finest defensive artistry. The only question now is: What’s next for this golden squad?
