McGonigle and Stewart Win 2026 MLB Rookie of the Year Awards

Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle was named the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday night, and Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart won the National League award, in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The two announcements opened award week in Major League Baseball, with three more honors still to come.

McGonigle took 28 of the 30 first-place votes in the American League. Stewart took 20 of 30 first-place votes in the National League and finished with 170 points, ahead of New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt.

McGonigle runs away with the AL vote

McGonigle played most of the season at age 21 and split his time between third base and shortstop. He hit .278 with a .376 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage, for an .806 OPS, across 156 games. He hit 18 home runs, drove in 72 runs, collected 28 doubles and stole 12 bases. He was also named to the American League All-Star team.

His 7.1 Baseball Reference WAR led the American League. McGonigle is the first Tigers player to win the award since pitcher Michael Fulmer in 2016, and the first Tigers infielder to win it since Lou Whitaker in 1978. He is the sixth player in franchise history to take the honor. The other American League finalists were Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick and Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle.

Stewart powers through the NL race

Stewart, 22, played all 162 games for Cincinnati. He hit .263 with a .330 on-base percentage and a .457 slugging percentage. His 32 home runs and 57 extra-base hits led National League rookies. His 112 RBI set a Reds rookie franchise record and led all rookies in either league. He also stole 15 bases.

Stewart is the ninth Reds player to win the award and the first since Jonathan India in 2021. One wire snippet carried 111 RBI for Stewart, but USA Today, theScore and Bleacher Report all list 112, the figure the Reds record is based on.

A draft pick comes with each award

Each winning club receives an additional selection after the first round of the 2027 MLB Draft under the league Prospect Promotion Incentive, which rewards teams that carry top prospects on their opening day rosters and keep them up for a full season of service time.

The Rookie of the Year vote was the first of four Baseball Writers Association of America announcements this week. Manager of the Year follows on Tuesday, November 10, the Cy Young Award winners are named on Wednesday, November 11, and the Most Valuable Player winners close the week on Friday, November 13.