McGonigle and Stewart win MLB rookie honors
Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle became the franchise’s sixth winner, while Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart set a Reds rookie record with 111 RBI.
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year award, while Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart took the National League honor. The selections opened a series of four MLB award announcements.
Stewart finished with 32 home runs, 25 doubles and 111 RBI, setting a Reds rookie record for RBI. His batting line was .263/.330/.457, with an OPS of .787. He became Cincinnati’s ninth recipient of the award and its first since Jonathan India won in 2021.
McGonigle recorded 18 home runs, 28 doubles, 75 RBI and 95 walks, alongside a .278/.376/.430 batting line and an OPS of .806. Detroit had not had a winner since Michael Fulmer in 2016; McGonigle is the sixth Tigers player to receive the honor.
Stewart’s competition included St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and the New York Mets’ Carson Benge. The remaining MLB announcements cover the two leagues’ Manager of the Year awards, the Cy Young Awards and MVP honors.
