Credit: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Gold Glove awards have been handed out at the major league level since 1957. In 1958 Rawlings started awarding Gold Gloves to players at each position in both the American and National League. It has not been around as long at the minor league level, but the onus of the award remains the same.
Last season Carlos Santana picked up a Gold Glove award for the Minnesota Twins at first base. This season Ty France, despite being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, made it two years in a row for the team at the same position.
He wasn’t the only winner in the organization this time though. Minor league prospect Kyle DeBarge joined him.
Kyle DeBarge wins Gold Glove in MN Twins farm system
In the 2024 Major League Baseball amateur draft the Minnesota Twins took infielder Kyle DeBarge 33rd overall. The shortstop at Louisiana-Lafayette quickly settled into second base at the professional level, and his glove immediately showed as a carrying too. This year he’s being awarded for it.
Congrats to Kyle DeBarge for being named the 2025 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award winner at 2B 🏆🌟 pic.twitter.com/EOttfHhiWN
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) November 3, 2025
Defensive stat tracking at the minor league level is rudimentary at best. Fangraphs doesn’t have advanced data, but the eye test certainly doesn’t hurt DeBarge by any means.
Kyle DeBarge quick to flash the leather to kick off a double play!#CRKernels | #OnlyInCR pic.twitter.com/5VPTYpkhka
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) September 13, 2025
DeBo defense!
Kyle DeBarge starts the 6-4-3 double play with a nice backhanded pick!#CRKernels | #OnlyInCR pic.twitter.com/UuAiQTLI7K
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) July 6, 2025
Kyle DeBarge can do it on defense too!
The walk off hero shows off the glove(kind of)!#CRKernels | #OnlyInCR pic.twitter.com/U4rGtytzx9
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) July 26, 2025
This season DeBarge played in 121 games for High-A Cedar Rapids and batted .237/.347/.362. He hit eight home runs while adding 23 doubles and five triples. Speed is clearly a part of DeBarge’s game as well. He swiped 66 bases while being thrown out just eight times.
Minnesota will need to see more from DeBarge offensively as he progresses through the system. However, a .709 OPS with a standout glove and significant speed is hardly something to overlook for a 21-year-old at High-A.
The Twins have plenty of recent picks that have been strong defenders. 2025 draft pick Marek Houston is probably capable of playing a big league shortstop right now. The more these players can become well-rounded producers, the better.
Mentioned in this article: Kyle DeBarge
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