Tigers' Kevin McGonigle Runs Away With AL Rookie of the Year, and Reds Slugger Sal Stewart Takes the NL Award

By The Arena Staff

NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2026 — The Detroit Tigers decided within a month that Kevin McGonigle was worth a nine-figure contract. On Monday night, the baseball writers agreed he was the best rookie in the American League, and it wasn't close.

McGonigle received 28 of 30 first-place votes and 204 of a possible 210 points from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, according to The Associated Press. Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick finished second with the other two first-place votes, and Boston left-hander Payton Tolle was third.

Over in the National League, Cincinnati's Sal Stewart won a tighter race. The 22-year-old got 20 first-place votes and 170 points, ahead of Mets outfielder Carson Benge (seven first-place votes, 107 points) and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (three, 99 points), MLB.com reported. Stewart was the only player named on all 30 ballots.

McGonigle played most of the season at 21 and never looked it. He hit .278 with an .806 OPS, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 28 doubles and 12 stolen bases, and his 707 plate appearances led the American League, according to MLB.com. CBS Sports noted his 7.1 WAR by Baseball Reference was the best among AL position players, and he walked 95 times against 100 strikeouts while bouncing between shortstop and third base.

The Tigers saw it early. A few weeks after his debut, they signed him to an eight-year, $150 million extension, CBS Sports reported. He is the first Tiger to win the award since pitcher Michael Fulmer in 2016 and the first Tigers infielder since Lou Whitaker in 1978, according to MLB.com.

Stewart's case was built on old-fashioned run production. He played all 162 games, hit .263 with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, and moved between first base, third base and second base. He is the first NL rookie with 30 or more homers since Pete Alonso hit 53 for the Mets in 2019, MLB.com reported, and CBS Sports pointed out he joined a short list of rookies with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a season.

The win gives Cincinnati its ninth Rookie of the Year, making the Reds the fifth franchise to reach that number. The list of previous Reds winners runs through Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and, most recently, Jonathan India in 2021.

Because both winners spent enough time in the majors to earn a full year of service, the Tigers and Reds each get a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick in the 2027 draft, according to CBS Sports. Voting was done before the postseason began, so only regular-season play counted.

Awards week continues Tuesday with Manager of the Year, followed by the Cy Young and MVP announcements later in the week.