Some 2026 MLB Awards Predictions

We’re mere hours away from Opening Day 2026 in Major League Baseball. This is typically when you get a ton of awards predictions. So, we will follow suit with some prognostications based on statistical analysis, recent trends, and middle-aged intuition.

Here are some awards predictions for the 2026 MLB season. 

Some 2026 MLB Awards Predictions

2026 Managers of the Year

American League: Mark Kotsay

The Athletics have been in a tough fix the last few years. After leaving their long-time home of Oakland, they are temporarily using a minor league stadium in Sacramento until their new residence is ready in Las Vegas. On top of that, the A’s are not known for luxurious spending. Mark Kotsay has had to manage through this tenuous situation and has performed quite admirably. The team’s record has improved considerably over the last two seasons, and they have a promising young lineup. Expect the A’s to challenge for a wild card spot in 2026 seriously, and that should make Mark Kotsay the American League Manager of the Year.

National League: Tony Vitello

How will the first-ever manager to go directly from college to MLB without any pro experience fare in the Show? This writer sees Tony Vitello being the National League Manager of the Year in 2026. The San Francisco Giants and team president Buster Posey are taking a chance with this former head coach of the Tennessee Vols, but they are giving him a solid roster for his maiden voyage in the Bay. Yes, the NL West may be the toughest division in baseball, yet the Giants should be squarely in the mix for a playoff ticket. If they punch that ticket, it is a good bet Tony Vitello wins the NL Manager of the Year award.

2026 Rookies of the Year

American League: Kevin McGonigle

The Detroit Tigers have roared back to MLB relevance over the last two years, spurred on by some spectacular pitching. This year, they are going to inject more offense into the fold with Kevin McGonigle, one of the game’s top prospects. Many didn’t see this shortstop from the Philadelphia suburbs making the Opening Day roster for Detroit, but his strong spring training has left the team with a tough decision. Even if McGonigle doesn’t come north with the big squad, it shouldn’t be long before he is on the left side of the infield in the Motor City. After hitting above .300 in each of the last three seasons in the minors, this prodigy is in a prime position to snag the AL Rookie of the Year in 2026.

National League: Sal Stewart

In a brief audition for the Cincinnati Reds last season, Sal Stewart showed why he is the team’s top prospect. He hit five homers with an .839 OPS in just 18 games. Fortunately for Stewart and the team, this first baseman maintained his rookie status for this year. The Reds are in desperate need of some pop to help their strong starting rotation. Stewart, along with veteran Eugenio Suarez, can supply that in the middle of the Cincinnati order. If Sal can provide some consistent power for a team that should contend for the NL Central title, then this Red may be the National League Rookie of the Year in 2026.

2026 Cy Youngs

American League: Hunter Brown

With the departure of Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown is now the unquestioned ace for the Houston Astros. This home-grown product has been developing each season since debuting late in 2022. Last year, he posted career-high numbers across the board: wins (12), ERA (2.43), strikeouts (206), innings (185.1), WHIP (1.025), and WAR (6.1). That resulted in a third-place AL Cy Young finish. That portends to an even better season for Brown in 2026. To a trained eye, that says Hunter Brown will be the American League Cy Young winner this season.

National League: Cristopher Sanchez

When Zack Wheeler was lost for the season last August, Christopher Sanchez stepped in for the Philadelphia Phillies and did not disappoint. He led all MLB pitchers in WAR and garnered a second-place NL Cy Young spot. Since Wheeler will begin the year on IL, this Dominican lefty with the devastating changeup will start and probably finish the season as the ace of the Phils. In a loaded rotation for one of the league’s perennial contenders, he seems poised to continue his ascension. This points to Cristopher Sanchez being the 2026 Cy Young winner in the National League.

2026 Most Valuable Players

American League: Gunnar Henderson

Could Aaron Judge win a third-straight American League MVP this season? That’s a distinct possibility, but a prime candidate to dethrone him resides in the same division: Gunnar Henderson. The Orioles’ shortstop is coming off a somewhat down year (if you can say that about a 5.3 WAR player). More specifically, Baltimore was a disappointment in 2025, so the team’s highest-flying bird is held to account. Still only 24 as of Opening Day, Henderson should be ultra-motivated and feeling confident after a huge WBC moment. Those signs indicate Gunnar Henderson will be the AL MVP in 2026.

National League: Shohei Ohtani

Picking someone other than Shohei Ohtani as the 2026 National League MVP is tough. Yet, common sense and analytics prevents that. If someone hits 50+ home runs with a 1.000+ OPS and then supplements that with 120+ innings on the mound with a sub-3.00 ERA, how could that dude not be the league’s most valuable player? What Ohtani has done since becoming a Dodger is truly unprecedented: for starters, the first 50/50 season ever, and maybe the greatest single-game performance anyone has ever seen. Barring injuries or his production falling into Chavez Ravine, Shohei Ohtani will most likely be the NL MVP again this season.