Early 2026 Rookie of the Year voting shows standout leaders in both leagues, yet voters expect tight races ahead.
A Rookie of the Year race doesn’t usually feel this close to being settled this early, but the opening six weeks of the 2026 season have already separated the field into clear leaders and relentless contenders.
That’s the central message from the first Rookie of the Year poll of 2026. based on votes from 39 MLB.com experts who were asked to look past current production.. Voters were instructed to rank their top five candidates in each league using a 5-4-3-2-1 point system for first through fifth place. with decisions grounded in both what has happened so far and how candidates are expected to perform for the rest of the season.
In the National League, McLean has helped set the tone for the early favorites.. Making his MLB debut last August. he has delivered an impressive first full look as a rookie: through Sunday. he stood out among qualified NL rookie pitchers with 57 strikeouts. an 11.32 K/9 rate. a 0.90 WHIP. and a .180 opponents’ batting average.. His 2.78 ERA ranked second among the group.. The report also notes that he tossed 48 innings, which kept his rookie eligibility intact through this season.
The Mets. meanwhile. have leaned on that steadiness as a bright spot during a season that hasn’t produced many reliable highlights.. McLean’s statistical profile reinforces the “safe floor” case often required from top rookie arms. where both strikeout ability and run prevention carry voters’ attention.
Stewart is the other major NL benchmark showing up in the early voting.. The report points to a strong follow-through from a memorable 2025 debut, when he hit five home runs in 18 games.. In 2026. he has led NL rookies outright with 10 homers and 30 RBIs entering play Monday. while also ranking among the top group in doubles with seven.. His .812 OPS sat second among the rookies. and his production has been described as a major factor in the Reds helping make the NL Central the best division in baseball this season.
That “division impact” angle matters in these polls because it ties individual output to larger team context. When a rookie’s contributions line up with meaningful team momentum, it can sharpen the story voters tell themselves about how the season will finish.
Wetherholt adds a different kind of case in the NL race, with on-base production and a power-combined profile.. Through Monday, he led qualified NL rookies with a .350 on-base percentage and 30 runs scored.. The report also credits him with strong power placement—ranked second among NL rookies in homers (seven) and third in hits (36) and RBIs (20).. His 118 OPS+ and 2.0 bWAR were also cited as leading metrics within the qualified rookie group.
Defensively, Wetherholt’s standing has been elevated by measurable impact at second base.. The report says his 6 Outs Above Average were third among MLB second basemen. with range called out as a major driver—specifically pointing to range ranking at the 99th percentile.. That combination of bat and glove is precisely the sort of “complete” rookie profile that tends to stay in the running even when the early statistical leaders shift week to week.
Griffin is another NL name built around speed and recent form.. Through Sunday. his nine stolen bases were the most among NL rookies. and he was tied for the lead in triples (two).. He also ranked tied for fourth among rookies in hits (32) and RBIs (19).. Over his past 10 games through Sunday. he hit .316 with a .913 OPS. highlighted by a four-hit performance against the Reds on May 2.. The report further notes he had safely reached base in 11 of his past 12 games.
Even in a league where power headlines dominate Rookie of the Year chatter. Griffin’s profile shows why voters keep multiple archetypes on their ballot.. Consistent baserunning pressure and a streaky but productive recent stretch can translate into counting stats that keep players visible as the calendar moves.
Ballesteros rounds out the early NL momentum, carrying forward attention from his initial callup last season.. In 2025, he posted an .868 OPS in 20 games for the Cubs.. This season. the report says the left-handed swinger leads qualified NL rookies with a .500 slugging percentage and an .827 OPS. while his six homers rank third among the group.
Alongside those front-runners. the poll’s list of others receiving votes also adds color to how crowded the NL picture is.. Foster Griffin earned one first-place vote for the Nationals. while the report lists Carson Benge of the Mets. Owen Caissie of the Marlins. Bubba Chandler of the Pirates. Joe Mack of the Marlins. Jose Fernandez of the D-backs. Nathan Church of the Cardinals. and TJ Rumfield of the Rockies as candidates who still drew support.
Over in the American League, the early favorite profile is anchored by strong overall production from Murakami.. At 26. the first baseman has been described as “exactly as advertised. ” leading all MLB rookies entering play Monday with 15 homers. a .556 slugging percentage. a .920 OPS. and 79 total bases.. The report also emphasizes that his approach isn’t just about power. citing 30 walks (tops among rookies) and a .364 on-base percentage through Sunday. which ranked fourth among MLB rookies.
The case for Murakami’s durability is reinforced by the fact that the report frames his early output as both heavy and controlled—power at the top end paired with patience at the plate.. In an award race, that matters because it suggests production isn’t dependent on a narrow stretch of favorable contact.
McGonigle represents the second major AL standout in the report, making the case through on-base and hit volume.. The report states that he led all MLB rookies in on-base percentage (.395). hits (43). and doubles (11) entering Monday. and was tied for the lead in triples (two).. It also adds that he hit .327 with a .946 OPS in April. with 32 hits during the month—performance described as topping all MLB rookies in each of those listed categories.
DeLauter is another AL candidate positioned as a leading hitter by multiple measures, including average and extra-base impact.. Entering Monday. the report says he led AL rookies with a .299 batting average and 17 extra-base hits. with both also serving as MLB rookie leads (and noting he was tied with Stewart in extra-base hits).. His .379 on-base percentage ranked second among MLB rookies, while his .522 slugging percentage also placed high within the rookie group.. The report further notes that he was batting .404 with a 1.004 OPS over his past 15 games entering Monday.
Okamoto’s storyline in the report is framed as a transformation at the plate rather than just a short-term hot streak.. After changing where he stands in the batter’s box. the report says he became a “new hitter.” In the 21 games since the move. he has hit .303 with eight homers. 22 RBIs. and a 1.049 OPS entering play Monday. with the report characterizing the adjustment as something he “unlocked.”
Messick is the other notable early leader. and the report emphasizes how his start-to-season pitching results have matched the standard set by McLean on the NL side.. The report says he leads all qualified AL rookie pitchers with four wins, a 2.30 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 47 innings pitched.. It also highlights a 0.98 WHIP ranking second among the group, along with an opponents’ average held to .208.. The report adds that he allowed more than three earned runs in a start only once this season.
The poll’s remaining AL vote-getters underline that the top has company. The report lists Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays, Payton Tolle of the Red Sox, Samuel Basallo of the Orioles, Travis Bazzana of the Guardians, Connelly Early of the Red Sox, and Carter Jensen of the Royals.
What makes this early voting especially interesting is the way the report describes how many of these rookies lead their peer group in at least one category.. That depth is part of the reason the report concludes that even with favorites emerging, the competition remains fierce.. If early leaders continue to carry their strengths while other candidates sustain momentum. voters could end up narrowing their focus to a smaller group later—setting up the potential for tight races by season’s end.
Meanwhile, the structure of the poll itself is designed to capture more than short-term form.. Because voters had to weigh both results through Sunday and expectations for the rest of the season. the current standings function like a snapshot of who can not only produce now. but also justify continued relevance as roles. matchups. and team situations evolve.
Rookie of the Year 2026 poll MLB rookie awards NL Rookie of the Year AL Rookie of the Year McLean Murakami