Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez and Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler have long been elite players when healthy. That’s why 2025 must have been frustrating for both, as they saw their seasons cut short by significant injuries.
In 2026, they came back with a vengeance. And on Wednesday night at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards, they were honored as the Comeback Player of the Year in their respective league.
Alvarez, one of the most intimidating hitters in the sport, received MVP votes each year from 2022-24 and ranked second to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge among qualified hitters with a 167 wRC+ during that three-year span. But his 2025 campaign was derailed by a left hand fracture in May, which was the chief reason why he played only 48 games and had a relatively modest 118 wRC+ that year.
Alvarez returned in 2026 with a career year. He set personal bests in games played (158) and home runs (42). Each segment of his triple-slash line -- .316/.432/.601 -- was a career high and led the Major Leagues. His 181 wRC+ was also second to none. Perhaps this is the year Alvarez gets his hands on that MVP Award – we’ll find out when the results are announced Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
Wheeler’s 2025 season was going great until late August. He had a 2.71 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP through 24 starts. But his season came to a sudden halt when he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and needed to undergo surgery that would sideline him for 6-8 months.
Wheeler’s surgery involved removing the first rib near his throwing shoulder. He kept the rib. And when the three-time All-Star returned to a big league mound on April 25, he kept shoving against opposing hitters. The 36-year-old posted a 3.00 ERA and struck out 193 hitters across 162 innings. Wheeler ranked eighth among qualified hurlers in strikeout-minus-walk rate (22.6%) and was among the 10 most valuable pitchers, according to Statcast’s pitching run value metric.
Alvarez is the second Astros player to win Comeback Player of the Year (Justin Verlander, 2022). Likewise, Wheeler is the second Phillie to earn the award (Brad Lidge, 2008).
The Comeback Player of the Year Award, which debuted in 2005, is presented annually to one player in each league “who has re-emerged on the field during the season.” The winners are determined via a vote by MLB.com’s 30 club beat reporters.