Las Big Leagues They announced this Monday the finalists of the main individual awards of the 2026 season. Shohei Ohtani, Yordan Álvarez, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cam Schlittler are among the candidates announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), which will recognize the most outstanding players and coaches of the year.
The 2026 edition will have something new: For the first time, the BBWAA will present the Reliever of the Year award in both leagues. With this addition, the awards will cover five categories: Most Valuable Player (MVP), Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year and Reliever of the Year.
Los three finalists from each category were revealed via MLB Networkwhile the winners will be announced from November 9 to 12.
Ohtani and Crow-Armstrong lead the dispute for the MVP
Shohei Ohtani will seek to expand his history of recognition after winning four MVP awardsincluding those from the last three seasons. The Japanese once again stood out both on offense and from the mound with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Although injuries limited his participation as a pitcher, he finished with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings. As a hitter, he hit at least 30 home runs for the sixth consecutive season and posted a .275/.377/.512 slash line.
One of his main competitors in the National League will be Pete Crow-Armstrongwho became the seventh player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in the same campaign. The Chicago Cubs outfielder finished with 45 home runs, 41 steals and a .280 average.
Brice Turang completes the shortlist after hitting 21 home runs and driving in 100 runs with the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that closed the season with the best record in the Majors, with 103 wins.
In the American League, Yordan Álvarez appears among the finalists after batting .316, hitting 42 home runs and produce 106 runs with the Houston Astros.
The Cuban will compete with Junior Caminero, from the Tampa Bay Rays, who also hit 42 home runs, and Bobby Witt Jr., of the Kansas City Royals, recognized for his combination of offensive and defensive performance.
Cy Young 2026: six pitchers seek recognition
The dispute over AL Cy Young includes Cam Schlittlerde New York Yankees; Dylan Cease, de Toronto Blue Jays; y Parker Messick, de Cleveland Guardians.
Schlittler led the circuit with a 1.95 ERA in 33 starts, in addition to recording 239 strikeouts. Cease matched that number of batters retired via strikeout and finished with a 2.40 ERA in his first season with Toronto.
Messick, for his part, posted a 2.56 ERA in 32 starts and 193 strikeouts.numbers that also allowed him to become a finalist for Rookie of the Year.
In the National League, Jacob Misiorowski stands out after leading the Major Leagues with 252 strikeouts and post a 1.80 ERA for Milwaukee.
Your rivals will be Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale, who finished with a 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeoutsand Cristopher Sánchez, of the Philadelphia Phillies, who pitched 207 innings and struck out 231 batters.
The finalists for Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year
Kevin McGonigle, Parker Messick y Payton Tolle They will compete for the Jackie Robinson Award for American League Rookie of the Year.
McGonigle finished his first season with the Detroit Tigers batting .278 and hitting 18 home runs.. Tolle, of the Boston Red Sox, recorded 171 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings.
In the National League, the candidates are Carson Benge, de New York Mets; Sal Stewart, de Cincinnati Reds; y JJ Wetherholtfrom the St. Louis Cardinals. Benge had 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases, while Stewart drove in 112 runs. Wetherholt stood out for his defensive work and contributed 17 home runs.
Among managers, Kevin Cash, Chad Tracy and Will Venable are the American League finalists. Don Mattingly, Pat Murphy and Walt Weiss will compete in the National.
Murphy will seek to become the first manager to win the recognition for three consecutive seasons since the award’s creation in 1983.
MLB will debut the Reliever of the Year award
The BBWAA will incorporate specific recognition for relief pitchers in 2026. In the American League, Bryan Baker, of the Tampa Bay Rays; Cade Smith, of the Cleveland Guardians; and Louis Varland, of the Toronto Blue Jays, make up the roster.
Baker and Smith shared the major league lead with 41 saveswhile Varland converted 35 of his 37 opportunities.
In the National League, Jhoan Duran, from the Philadelphia Phillies, will compete; Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers; and Mason Miller, of the San Diego Padres. Miller recorded 38 saves and 129 strikeouts in 70 innings, while Duran finished with 33 saves and Megill with 30.
When are the 2026 MLB awards awarded?
LakeAnnouncement ceremony will begin on Monday, November 9 with the Rookie of the Year winners. On Tuesday the 10th the Managers of the Year will be announced and on Wednesday the 11th the Cy Young and Reliever of the Year awards will be revealed.
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Finally, On Thursday, November 12, the MVP winners of the American and National leagues will be announcedthus closing the delivery of the main individual recognitions of the 2026 season.
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