MLB Announces 2026 Award Winners and Finalists

The 2026 Major League Baseball season has officially entered its awards phase, with the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) announcing the winners for Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year. These honors follow a historic campaign that culminated in the Milwaukee Brewers securing their first World Series championship in franchise history after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays.

In the National League, Reds infielder Sal Stewart was named the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. Stewart impressed voters with a productive offensive season, finishing with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. While some analysts pointed to the superior advanced metrics of Mets outfielder Carson Benge, Stewart’s ability to drive in runs and maintain a high profile throughout the season proved decisive in the voting process.

The American League Rookie of the Year award was presented to Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle. McGonigle, who debuted on Opening Day at age 21, recorded a .278 batting average with 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases. His consistent performance throughout his debut campaign helped him edge out fellow finalists Parker Messick of the Guardians and Payton Tolle of the Red Sox.

Managerial honors were also distributed this week. In the National League, Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers claimed his third consecutive Manager of the Year award after leading his team to a league-best 103 wins and a fourth straight division title. In the American League, White Sox manager Will Venable earned the award after orchestrating a significant turnaround for his club, narrowly outpacing Rays manager Kevin Cash.

The awards season continues with the announcement of the Cy Young Awards on November 11 and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors on November 12. The MVP race features notable finalists such as Yordan Alvarez of the Astros and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals in the American League, while the National League finalists include Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.

The voting process for these honors involves a panel of two sportswriters from each of MLB’s 30 cities. For the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year categories, voters rank their top choices, with points assigned based on those rankings to determine the final winner. The league will conclude its individual awards distribution with the announcement of Silver Slugger winners on November 17.