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Tigers' Kevin McGonigle and Reds' Sal Stewart Win 2026 Rookie of the Year Awards
Confirmed
In Short: Kevin McGonigle and Sal Stewart were named the American League and National League Rookie of the Year, respectively, by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
ANNOUNCEMENT & REACTIONS to Sal Stewart and Kevin McGonigle winning 2026 Rookie of the Year Awards!🤩. MLB
Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds were named the 2026 Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues on Monday night, according to the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA).
McGonigle, a hard-nosed infielder, received 28 of 30 first-place votes, beating out the Cleveland Guardians' Parker Messick and the Boston Red Sox's Payton Tolle.
Stewart, a 22-year-old first baseman, garnered 20 of 30 first-place votes, outshining the New York Mets' Carson Benge and the St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt.
McGonigle's rookie season was marked by his consistency and discipline, leading the AL with 7.1 wins above replacement (WAR) and finishing fifth in the league in walks and hits.
Stewart's standout performance included 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, putting him in rarefied air for a rookie, as he became the first Reds rookie to achieve a 30-homer, 100-RBI season.
McGonigle's 168 hits and 97 runs scored led all rookies, while his 18 home runs and 12 stolen bases made him just the fifth rookie to record at least 100 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
Stewart's 25 doubles, 32 home runs, and 112 RBIs highlighted his power production, and he played in all 162 games, showcasing his durability.
The Tigers and Reds will each receive a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick in the 2027 MLB Draft due to McGonigle and Stewart's full year of service time.
McGonigle's eight-year, $150 million extension and Stewart's strong debut season underscore the value these young stars bring to their teams.
Both players expressed gratitude for their support systems, with McGonigle emphasizing his belief in himself and Stewart acknowledging the difficulty of his achievement.
What's confirmed
- Stewart, meanwhile, beat the Mets ' Carson Benge and the Cardinals ' JJ Wetherholt.
- McGonigle, a hard-nosed, Pennsylvania-raised left-handed hitter who excelled at plate discipline and avoided the prolonged slumps of a typical rookie season, received 28 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart was named the National League Rookie of the Year and Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the award in the American League on Monday, a crowning achievement for two young stars who shined in dissimilar ways.
What's still developing
- The annual awards, which also include Manager of the Year, Reliever of the Year, Cy Young and MVP, are voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (that's two per MLB city in each league).
- Overall, Stewart appeared in all 162 games, hitting.263/.330/.457 (117 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 32 homers, 112 RBI, 87 runs and 15 steals.
- Everyone else has taken home the hardware, just as Stewart did Monday evening.
- The only names from that list to not win the award either faced another player from the list or played before Rookie of the Year was awarded.
- McGonigle became the first rookie to finish within the top five in both categories since Ted Williams in 1939, according to ESPN Insights.
- The 2026 Tigers fell well short of expectations and were ultimately forced to trade star pitcher Tarik Skubal, a pending free agent, at midseason, but McGonigle, who signed an eight-year, $150 million extension midway through his first month, was a reminder of the young position-player talent rising through the organization.
- "Believing in myself and always seeing myself where I'm at today is what makes me most proud," McGonigle said on a conference call.
- A historic rookie season for Kevin McGonigle pic.twitter.com/2ibMV1bqAU Kevin McGonigle ran away with the hardware Here’s the voting breakdown for the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year Award!
- "The people around my corner, they understand how hard that is, how difficult that is," Stewart said.
- McGonigle and Stewart turned high expectations into award-winning seasons, giving Detroit and Cincinnati cornerstone talents who already made an impact on both sides of the ball.
- Stewart, 22, showed his ROY potential during a late-season callup to Cincinnati in 2025, and he delivered on it in ‘26.
- McGonigle received… The Washington Nationals agreed to a four-year, $23 million extension with outfielder Jacob Young, MLB.com reported Friday.