SAN DIEGO – Former San Diego State baseball star Ty France earned a 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, as announced Sunday night on ESPN.
France, who was acquired by the Blue Jays at the July 31 trade deadline after starting the season with the Minnesota Twins, collected his first career Gold Glove Award and was one of nine first-time honorees among this year's recipients.
France, who led all first basemen with a +10 outs above average during the 2025 campaign, becomes the second player at his position in Toronto franchise history to receive Gold Glove recognition, joining Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2022.
A native of West Covina, California, France was a three-year starter at third base for San Diego State from 2013-15, helping the Aztecs secure three straight Mountain West tournament championships and NCAA regional appearances.
France made huge impact in his first year on The Mesa in 2013, earning Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America after winning MVP honors at the Mountain West tournament.
In addition, France received first-team all-MW recognition in 2014 and 2015, garnering third-team All-America accolades from Baseball America following his sophomore season. He was also named the team’s offensive MVP in 2014 after leading the Scarlet and Black in batting average, hits, doubles, runs scored, and on-base percentage.
As junior, France hit .336 with 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 49 RBIs before his selection by the San Diego Padres in the 34th round of the 2015 MLB Draft.
Upon completion of his Aztec career, France was ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in several categories, including hits (7th, 235), doubles (7th, 47), at-bats (10th, 698), total bases (11th, 330) and RBIs (16th, 130).
France made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2019, belting seven homers with 24 RBIs in 69 games that season. He was an All-Star selection with the Seattle Mariners in 2022 and also spent time with the Cincinnati Reds during the 2024 campaign before joining the Twins in the offseason.
Launched 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 percent) and the sabermetrics community (25 percent). Managers and coaches vote only within their own league and cannot vote for players on their own teams.