Major League Baseball on Monday announced finalists for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each League. At last year’s All-Star Game in Atlanta, MLB celebrated the 51st anniversary of Hank Aaron’s historic 715th record-breaking home run with a special in-game presentation. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the Hank Aaron Award’s introduction, which was established to honor the momentous milestone.
The Hank Aaron Award winners will be announced live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT during a special presentation at the MLB Awards, which will be aired live on MLB Network for a fourth consecutive year. Three-time Hank Aaron Award winner Shohei Ohtani (2023-25) is among this year’s finalists. Also among this year’s finalists are a pair of MLB Develops alumni, including Jordan Walker (DREAM Series and Breakthrough Series in 2019) and Bobby Witt Jr. (States Play in 2018).
2026 HANK AARON AWARD FINALISTS
American League
Pete Alonso - Baltimore Orioles
Yordan Alvarez - Houston Astros
Randy Arozarena - Seattle Mariners
Junior Caminero - Tampa Bay Rays
Willson Contreras - Boston Red Sox
Yandy Díaz - Tampa Bay Rays
Riley Greene - Detroit Tigers
Ben Rice - New York Yankees
Miguel Vargas - Chicago White Sox
Bobby Witt Jr. - Kansas City Royals
National League
CJ Abrams - Washington Nationals
Jake Bauers - Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Crow-Armstrong - Chicago Cubs
Elly De La Cruz - Cincinnati Reds
Shohei Ohtani - Los Angeles Dodgers
Matt Olson - Atlanta Braves
Kyle Schwarber - Philadelphia Phillies
Sal Stewart - Cincinnati Reds
Fernando Tatis Jr. - San Diego Padres
Jordan Walker - St. Louis Cardinal
A committee of MLB.com journalists reviewed the top offensive statistics, accomplishments, and performances of the regular season to determine the ten finalists for each league. MLB legends and past recipients of the prestigious award comprise the renowned panel that each cast votes for their choices for the honor. The distinguished group includes: 2006 and 2009 Hank Aaron Award winner Derek Jeter; 2005 and 2016 Hank Aaron Award winner David Ortiz; 2003 and 2009 Hank Aaron Award winner Albert Pujols; Ken Griffey Jr.; Chipper Jones; Pedro Martínez; John Smoltz; Johnny Bench; Craig Biggio; and Eddie Murray.
Fans also have the opportunity to cast their vote on who should receive this distinguished award by voting from the list of finalists in each the American League and National League through MLB.com/aaron. The voting window begins today at noon and runs through Monday, Oct. 12 at 11:59 a.m. ET.
The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, and, at that time, was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.