Pete Crow-Armstrong Challenges Ohtani, Turang for 2026 NL MVP

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Shohei Ohtani and Brice Turang were named finalists Monday, November 2, for the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award. The shortlist sets Crow-Armstrong’s historic power-speed season against Ohtani’s injury-limited two-way year and Turang’s all-around role on baseball’s winningest regular-season team.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America completed its voting before the postseason. The winner will be announced on November 12.

2026 NL MVP finalists at a glance

• Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs: 45 home runs, 41 stolen bases and a .280/.372/.570 batting line.
• Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers: 30 home runs with a .889 OPS, plus a 1.79 ERA in 85 2/3 innings.
• Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers: 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, 19 steals and an .816 OPS.

Crow-Armstrong builds his case with power, speed and defense

Crow-Armstrong enters the announcement as the strongest challenger to Ohtani’s three-year hold on the award. The Cubs center fielder became the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, finishing with 45 homers and 41 stolen bases while helping drive the league’s highest-scoring offense.

His value extended well beyond the batter’s box. Crow-Armstrong led all major-league players in Statcast’s Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value, pairing elite center-field defense with a .942 OPS. It is his first top-three MVP finish after placing ninth in the 2025 voting.

Ohtani remains a finalist despite two injuries

Ohtani reached the final three for a sixth consecutive season, even though left knee and right biceps problems disrupted the second half of his year. He produced a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings across 14 starts, but did not pitch after July 3.

At the plate, the Dodgers star hit .275/.377/.512 with 30 home runs and an .889 OPS. That gave him a sixth straight 30-homer season, though his production faded after early August as he worked through the injuries.

Ohtani has won four MVP awards, including each of the past three. Only Barry Bonds, with seven, has won more.

Turang rewarded after 100-RBI season for MLB’s best team

Turang earned his first MVP finalist selection after helping the Brewers finish 103-59, the best record in the majors. The second baseman batted .268 with 21 homers, 100 RBIs and 19 steals while continuing to provide premium defense at a demanding position.

The three finalists offer sharply different cases. Crow-Armstrong combined elite power, speed and center-field defense; Ohtani delivered rare two-way impact in a shortened pitching season; and Turang supplied run production and defense for the regular season’s top club. The November 12 result will show how voters weighed those paths to value.