Tigers SS Kevin McGonigle, Reds 1B Sal Stewart win MLB's rookie of year awards

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  Alden GonzalezNov 9, 2026, 08:14 PM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart was named the National League Rookie of the Year and Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the award in the American League on Monday, a crowning achievement for two young stars who shined in very different ways.

McGonigle received 28 of the 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, with Cleveland Guardians starter Parker Messick garnering the other two. White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami got two second-place votes and Boston Red Sox starter Payton Tolle, the third finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, received 12 third-place votes.

Stewart received 20 of 30 first-place votes, with New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge netting seven and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt got the other three.

McGonigle brought uncommon production and discipline for a 22-year-old who is only three years removed from being a first-round pick out of high school, ultimately leading the AL with 7.1 Baseball-Reference wins above replacement and finishing fifth in the league in walks and hits. McGonigle became the first rookie to finish within the top five in both categories since Ted Williams in 1939, according to ESPN Insights.

A hard-nosed, Pennsylvania-raised left-handed hitter who split his time between third base and shortstop this season, McGonigle slashed .278/.376/.430 with 18 home runs, 12 stolen bases and almost as many walks (95) as strikeouts (100). His 97 runs scored led all rookies and his 168 hits were tied with Benge for the lead among first-year players.

Stewart, 22, brought premium power production for a shorthanded Reds lineup, posting the first 30-homer, 100-RBI season ever for a Reds rookie. Stewart finished with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, the latter of which was the third-highest total in the majors this past season.

A first-round pick out of high school in Miami in 2022, Stewart slashed .263/.330/.457 despite struggling in the month of September and also added 15 stolen bases. All told, he became just the fifth rookie to ever put up at least 100 RBIs and 15 stolen bases, according to ESPN Insights, joining Carlos Beltran (1999), Jose Canseco (1986), Tony Lazzeri (1926) and Al Simmons (1924).

McGonigle and Stewart were ultimately the headliners of what proved to be a standout rookie class.

It also featured Messick, who went 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA while taking down 186 1/3 innings for the Guardians. Tolle, the affable, mustachioed left-hander who put up a 3.03 ERA and struck out 171 batters in 148 2/3 innings. Benge, who batted .282 while also becoming the first Mets rookie to put up a 20/20 season. And Wetherholt, who combined elite defense with 17 homers and 14 steals. The likes of Murakami, Carter Jansen, Travis Bazanna, Chase DeLauter, TJ Rumfield and Nolan McLean also stood out, among several others.

Look out yonder, and you might see the new faces of the sport.