Kevin McGonigle, Sal Stewart Win 2026 MLB Rookie of the Year Awards

Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds won the 2026 MLB Rookie of the Year awards on Monday, giving baseball’s awards season two winners who turned full rookie campaigns into immediate star-level production.

McGonigle took the American League honor with 28 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Stewart received 20 first-place votes to win in the National League.

• AL winner: Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers
• NL winner: Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds
• Voting: McGonigle received 28 first-place votes; Stewart received 20
• Team benefit: Detroit and Cincinnati each earned a supplemental first-round pick in the 2027 MLB Draft through the Prospect Promotion Incentive program

McGonigle’s complete season separates him in the AL

McGonigle’s case went beyond the usual rookie benchmarks. The 22-year-old infielder led all American League position players with 7.1 Baseball-Reference WAR while reaching base at a .376 clip over 707 plate appearances.

He finished his first major league season with a .278 average, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 97 runs and 95 walks. His combination of contact, patience and defensive value helped make the vote nearly unanimous.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick received the other two first-place votes. Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle was the third finalist.

McGonigle became the sixth Tigers player to win Rookie of the Year and the franchise’s first position-player winner since Lou Whitaker in 1978. His award also rewards Detroit’s decision to carry him on the Opening Day roster: the Tigers will receive an extra selection after the first round of the 2027 draft.

Stewart’s power earns the National League award

Stewart built his winning case around the kind of middle-of-the-order production rarely seen from a rookie. The 22-year-old played all 162 games and hit .263 with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs and a .787 OPS.

He became the first Reds rookie to reach both 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in a season. His 112 RBIs also established a Cincinnati rookie record, while his 57 extra-base hits and 285 total bases underlined how consistently he drove the ball.

New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge received seven first-place votes, and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt collected three. Stewart finished with 170 total points to secure the award.

Stewart is the ninth Reds player to win Rookie of the Year and the first since Jonathan India in 2021. Cincinnati, like Detroit, will receive a supplemental selection in the 2027 draft under MLB’s incentive program for promoting eligible top prospects without delaying their service time.

Two rookies who played like established stars

The voting reflected two different routes to the same honor. McGonigle separated himself through all-around value and elite on-base ability, while Stewart supplied the power and run production expected from a veteran cleanup hitter.

Both also became All-Stars during their first full major league seasons. Their awards confirm what their clubs saw throughout 2026: neither player needed a transition year to become a central piece of a contending lineup.