The 2025 Minor League Baseball Gold Glove Awards, announced on November 2, spotlighted just how international the sport has become — and how much of that defensive excellence is now rooted in the National League Central.
Three international-born players captured honors this season: catcher Leonardo Bernal of the St. Louis Cardinals (Panama), third baseman Pedro Ramirez of the Chicago Cubs (Venezuela), and outfielder Luis Lara of the Milwaukee Brewers (Venezuela).
These three rising defenders represent a global thread running straight through one division — and a reminder that great gloves don’t always grow close to home.
Leonardo Bernal — Panama | St. Louis Cardinals | Catcher
Signed for $680,000 in 2021, Bernal has been on St. Louis’s radar since his days catching for Panama in youth international tournaments. Now 21, he’s become the Cardinals’ top catching prospect and ranks No. 92 overall on MLB Pipeline.
At Double-A Springfield, Bernal threw out 27 of 69 would-be base stealers — an elite 39 percent caught-stealing rate — while handling a full workload behind the plate. His defensive growth matches what the organization loves most: his preparation and maturity.
A year earlier, Bernal earned an invite to the Arizona Fall League with Glendale, where he learned to handle pro-caliber staffs. Now, with Panama eyeing its next World Baseball Classic roster, Bernal’s name is already on the radar as a potential backstop of the future.
Pedro Ramirez — Venezuela | Chicago Cubs | Third Baseman
Ramirez signed for $75,000 out of Temblador, Venezuela, in 2021 — a bargain that looks better with each season.
He trained alongside fellow countryman Moises Ballesteros and has climbed steadily through the Cubs system with an advanced approach and reliable glove.
At Double-A Knoxville this year, Ramirez made clean, confident plays across the diamond, proving he can handle both second and third base while keeping his bat competitive in a league filled with top prospects.
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Cubs evaluators praise his consistency — and that calmness under pressure that often defines Venezuelan infielders. Whether he ultimately breaks through as a second baseman or a versatile utility defender, Ramirez is part of a strong new generation of Venezuelan talent bound for bigger stages.
Luis Lara — Venezuela | Milwaukee Brewers | Outfielder
Few players cover ground as gracefully as Luis Lara.
Signed for $1.1 million in 2022, the 20-year-old has followed the Brewers’ blueprint for international success — the same system that developed Jackson Chourio.
This season, Lara manned center field for Double-A Biloxi with a .994 fielding percentage across 126 games, collecting 10 assists and flashing both a 60-grade arm and run tool.
His routes are sharp, his first step is elite, and his speed changes the outfield geometry.
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In previous coverage of Milwaukee’s system, Lara was cited among a select group of Brewers prospects — including Jackson Chourio and Yophery Rodríguez — who skipped the Arizona Fall League, moving directly from the Dominican Summer League to affiliate ball. That accelerated path helped shape the poised, instinctive outfielder he’s become today.
Lara doesn’t hit for power, but he’s a switch-hitter with contact skills and plus instincts — a defensive anchor who could one day roam center for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
A Global Glove Game
From Panama to Venezuela, three NL Central organizations found Gold Glove talent beyond the U.S. borders — each with a story that began in dusty sandlots and youth tournaments half a world away. Their journeys reflect what baseball’s future already looks like: multilingual, multi-national, and defined by defense. As the 2026 World Baseball Classic approaches, the path from the minors to the international stage has never looked smoother — or more global.
2025 MiLB Gold Glove Award Winners
C: Leonardo Bernal (St. Louis Cardinals, No. 4/MLB No. 92), Springfield (Double-A)
1B: Tre’ Morgan (Tampa Bay Rays, No. 7), Durham (Triple-A)
2B: Kyle DeBarge (Minnesota Twins, No. 11), Cedar Rapids (High-A)
3B: Pedro Ramirez (Chicago Cubs, No. 8), Knoxville (Double-A)
SS: Konnor Griffin (Pittsburgh Pirates, No. 1/MLB No. 1), Bradenton (Low-A), Greensboro (High-A), Altoona (Double-A)
OF: Luis Lara (Milwaukee Brewers, No. 12), Biloxi (Double-A)
OF: Druw Jones (Arizona Diamondbacks, No. 14), Hillsboro (High-A)
OF: Homer Bush Jr. (Tampa Bay Rays, No. 23), Montgomery (Double-A)
P: Robby Snelling (Miami Marlins, No. 3/MLB No. 51), Pensacola (Double-A), Jacksonville (Triple-A
