The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has selected Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle as the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year, and Reds infielder Sal Stewart as the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year.
McGonigle received 28 of 30 first-place votes, with Guardians left-hander Parker Messick receiving the other two.
Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes in the BBWAA balloting, with Mets outfielder Carson Benge receiving seven and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt garnering three.
AL winner
Kevin McGonigle, INF, Tigers
McGonigle is the sixth Tiger to earn Rookie of the Year honors and the first Detroit position player to win it since Lou Whitaker in 1978. Entering the season as the No. 2 overall prospect in MLB, McGonigle more than lived up to the hype as he led the American League with 7.1 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference.
Just 21 years old for most of the season, McGonigle displayed plate discipline far beyond his years. He rarely chased out of the zone and had a walk rate (13.4%) that nearly equaled his strikeout rate (14.1%). That heavily contributed to the lefty hitter’s .376 on-base percentage, which paced all qualified rookies and ranked sixth in the AL.
McGonigle also scored 97 runs, the eighth-most in the AL, while batting at or near the top of Detroit’s lineup. McGonigle is the fifth rookie in AL/NL history to post at least 95 walks and 95 runs scored since the Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1947, joining Aaron Judge (2017), Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (1965), Jim Gilliam (1953) and Al Rosen (1950).
McGonigle, who was selected to the AL All-Star team, also provided decent pop (18 home runs) and speed (12 stolen bases) while playing more than 90 games each at shortstop and third base. That versatility, blended with his plus skills at the plate, is why he was voted as the junior circuit’s top rookie.
Plus, as a result of McGonigle’s win, the Tigers earn a supplemental first-round Draft pick next year under the Prospect Promotion Incentive, an extra reward for the club’s decision to add its top prospect to its Opening Day roster out of Spring Training.
NL winner
Sal Stewart, INF, Reds
Stewart became the ninth Red to win Rookie of the Year, drawing Cincinnati into a tie with the Athletics for the fourth-most winners of any franchise. He is the first Red to win the award since Jonathan India in 2021, who at the time was the first Reds winner since Scott Williamson in 1999.
Stewart debuted in the big leagues at the end of 2025, hanging an .838 OPS in 18 games that foreshadowed what was to come in his first full campaign. The 22-year-old finished 2026 with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs and a .787 OPS. He was the first Reds rookie and just the 15th overall to post a 30-homer, 100-RBI season. The past nine newcomers to go for 30 and 100 each also won the Rookie of the Year Award. Pete Alonso did so most recently for the Mets in 2019.
Stewart’s season got off to a roaring start, with him carrying an OPS over 1.000 through April 25. Outside of a particularly difficult September in which he hit just one home run, Stewart was a consistent contributor at or near the top of the Reds’ order, helping him to earn his first trip to the All-Star Game. He took home two of the six NL Rookie of the Month honors handed out this season, for March/April (nine homers, .943 OPS) and August (eight homers, .880 OPS).
While Stewart’s defense graded a bit below average on the season (-4 Fielding Run Value), he spent time at three different defensive positions: first base, third base and second base. He also played in all 162 games (161 starts), providing a steady presence in a lineup that was battered by injuries.
All in all, it was a historic first full season for Stewart, who joined Hall of Famer and 1956 Rookie of the Year Frank Robinson as the only Reds to hit at least 30 home runs as a rookie. And now, he’ll be adding to his trophy case.