Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle and Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart were named American League and National League Rookie of the Year, respectively, for 2026 on Monday night.
McGonigle received 28 of 30 first-place votes in balloting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He easily outpointed Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick and Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle, who finished second and third, respectively.
Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes to finish well ahead of New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt. Benge received seven first-place votes and Wetherholt received three.
McGonigle made a great first impression when he had four hits and drove in two runs on Opening Day in a Tigers road win over the San Diego Padres. He went on to post a .278 average, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 156 games and 707 plate appearances.
He was named an AL All-Star, with the game held in Philadelphia, near his hometown.
Stewart, 22, showed his ROY potential during a late-season callup to Cincinnati in 2025, and he delivered on it in ‘26. The first baseman-third baseman slugged 32 home runs, drove in 112 runs and batted .263 while playing in all 162 games for Cincinnati. He finished second in the NL in RBIs and eighth in homers.
He, too, was an All-Star selection, representing the NL.
The awards come with rewards for the Tigers and Reds organizations. Each will receive an additional selection in the 2027 MLB Draft under the league’s Prospect Promotion Incentive, or PPI. The PPI is intended to encourage clubs to call up top prospects when they’re ready rather than keep them in the minor leagues and manipulate their service time to gain an extra year of contractual control.
The picks will be added after the first round.
–Field Level Media
