Tigers' McGonigle and Reds' Stewart Win 2026 Rookie of the Year
Both players earned full service time, securing additional draft picks for their clubs in the 2027 MLB Draft.
By Gavin Wilson ·
Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds were named the 2026 Rookie of the Year winners on Monday night. The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the awards as part of its annual ceremony. McGonigle received 28 of the 30 first-place votes in the American League, while Stewart earned 20 first-place votes in the National League.
Stewart finished the regular season with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. He played in all 162 games for the Reds, batting .263 with an on-base percentage of .330 and an slugging percentage of .457. His total of 2.0 WAR trailed his competitors, but his power numbers placed him in a small group of rookies who have reached those milestones. Carson Benge of the New York Mets and JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals finished second and third, respectively.
McGonigle led all American League position players with 7.1 WAR. The Pennsylvania native posted a .278 batting average and a .376 on-base percentage. He recorded 28 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, and 97 runs. McGonigle also stole 12 bases and drew 95 walks while striking out 100 times. Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians and Payton Tolle of the Boston Red Sox took the second and third spots in the AL voting.
The awards were determined by 30 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, with two writers representing each MLB city. Votes were cast before the postseason began, so only regular-season statistics counted. The ceremony also recognized the best managers, relievers, pitchers, and most valuable players in both leagues.
Both winners qualified for a full year of service time during the 2026 campaign. As a result, the Tigers and Reds will each receive a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick in the 2027 MLB Draft. This rule applies to rookies who stay on the major-league roster for a specific duration during their first year.
Stewart becomes the fifth Red to win the award since the franchise's inception. Previous winners include Frank Robinson in 1956 and Johnny Bench in 1968. McGonigle is the sixth Tiger to receive the honor, joining a list that includes Justin Verlander in 2006 and Michael Fulmer in 2016.
McGonigle signed an eight-year, $150 million contract extension a few weeks after his major-league debut. Stewart remains with the Reds under his original rookie contract. The next major awards ceremony will take place after the World Series concludes, when the League Championship Series MVPs are announced.
