Who won MLB Rookie of the Year?

Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers won the 2026 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award, and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds won the National League award. The Baseball Writers' Association of America, whose members vote on the award, published both results on November 9, 2026.

How the 2026 vote came out

McGonigle received 28 of the 30 first-place votes in the American League balloting, and Parker Messick of the Guardians received the other two. The association said McGonigle and Messick were the only players named on every American League ballot.

Stewart received 20 of the 30 first-place votes in the National League balloting. Carson Benge of the Mets received seven and JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals received three. The association said Stewart was the only player listed on every National League ballot.

Who the winners are

McGonigle is an infielder who split his season between two positions. The association's report said he played 96 games at shortstop and 94 games at third base, and was a designated hitter in five games. He is the sixth Tigers player to win the award. MLB.com reported that Detroit selected him 37th overall in the 2023 Draft.

Stewart is a first baseman who hit 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs, according to the association's report. He is the ninth Reds player to win the award, and the most recent before him was Jonathan India in 2021. MLB.com reported that Stewart played in all 162 games and that the Reds selected him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2022 Draft.

How the voting works

Each league's award is decided by 30 ballots, submitted by two writers representing each city in that league, and the association publishes every writer's ballot with the result. Ballots were cast before postseason play. A first-place vote is worth seven points, second place four, third place three, fourth place two and fifth place one.

The association scheduled the announcement for November 9 in a show starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time on MLB Network. The same schedule lists the Most Valuable Player awards for November 12.

Recent winners

The association's award history lists these winners for the last three seasons.

The award is named for Jackie Robinson, whom the association lists as the very first winner, in 1947.