MLB MVP awards 2026: Who are the finalists?

The games are finished, but there’s still hardware to hand out. From Pete Crow-Armstrong’s power-speed combination to Yordan Alvarez’s extraordinary hitting, the 2026 finalists give fans plenty to debate before the winners are revealed.

There are two awards to decide: One for the American League and one for the National League. The finalists were announced on November 2, with the winners set to be revealed during MLB Network’s November 12 show, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

One detail changes how this conversation should be framed: The voting is already complete. These players are the top three finishers in each league, and their cases rest on the regular season, not what happened in October.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

What are the MLB MVP awards?

The Major League Baseball (MLB) Most Valuable Player awards recognize the players judged most valuable to their teams in each league during the regular season.

Members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) vote for the awards. Their instructions include considering offensive and defensive value, games played and the player’s overall contribution. Pitchers and designated hitters are eligible alongside players who take the field every day.

There isn’t a single statistical formula that automatically produces the winner. That leaves room for different kinds of excellence: Dominant hitting, outstanding defense, speed on the bases or contributions on both sides of the ball.

An MVP also doesn’t have to play for a division winner or a playoff team. Team success provides context, but reaching the postseason isn’t an eligibility requirement.

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How are the MLB MVP categories split?

There are two league MVP awards, with one winner in each:

These aren’t separate awards for hitters, pitchers or individual positions. Players with different roles compete for the same league honor.

The league MVP awards are also distinct from postseason MVP honors. A player’s World Series performance doesn’t change his standing in this vote, because ballots were submitted before the postseason began.

Who are the confirmed 2026 MLB MVP finalists?

The names are listed alphabetically within each league; their order doesn’t reveal where they finished in the voting.

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What makes each American League finalist’s season stand out?

1. Why is Yordan Alvarez an AL MVP finalist?

Alvarez made his case with relentless production at the plate. He hit .316 with 42 home runs and 106 runs batted in (RBIs), combining power with a .432 on-base percentage and .601 slugging percentage.

He led MLB in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage among qualified hitters. That combination captures how difficult he was to contain: He reached base frequently and inflicted serious damage when he connected.

His finalist case centers on the scale of that offensive contribution. The comparison with Caminero and Witt asks how voters weigh exceptional hitting against a broader mix of fielding and baserunning value.

1. Why is Junior Caminero an AL MVP finalist?

Caminero matched Alvarez’s 42 home runs, adding 101 RBIs and a .276 batting average. He supplied middle-of-the-order power while handling an everyday defensive assignment.

His durability gives the season another dimension: He started all 162 regular-season games at third base for Tampa Bay.

That makes his case about sustained contribution as well as individual highlights. The home runs draw attention, but providing that production while taking the field throughout the season adds substance to his place among the finalists.

1. Why is Bobby Witt Jr. an AL MVP finalist?

Witt brings a different profile to the discussion. He hit .281 with 18 home runs and 45 stolen bases, contributing through speed as well as his bat.

His defense at shortstop strengthens that case. MLB’s finalist coverage highlights his fielding alongside his baserunning as central parts of his overall value.

Witt’s season illustrates why the MVP conversation extends beyond the home-run leaderboard. Turning a hit into an extra base or preventing an opponent’s hit can influence games without producing the same headline as a long ball.

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What makes each National League finalist’s season stand out?

1. Why is Pete Crow-Armstrong an NL MVP finalist?

Crow-Armstrong delivered a spectacular combination of power and speed: 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases, alongside a .280 batting average and 107 RBIs.

His season also included at least 30 doubles, placing him in a rare group with Shohei Ohtani and Alfonso Soriano as players to combine that mark with at least 45 homers and 40 steals.

That range of production gives his case its force. Opponents had to account for his ability to change a game with one swing and his threat to take another base once he reached.

1. Why is Shohei Ohtani an NL MVP finalist?

Ohtani’s case again spans two jobs. At the plate, he hit .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs. On the mound, he recorded a 1.79 earned run average over 85⅔ innings, striking out 95 batters.

Evaluating that combination requires a different comparison from judging hitters alone. His pitching and batting contributions both belong in the assessment, even though the workloads differ.

Ohtani enters this announcement with four career MVP awards. Another would be his fifth, but previous honors don’t determine the result: The question is the value of his 2026 season.

1. Why is Brice Turang an NL MVP finalist?

Turang paired 21 home runs and 100 RBIs with 19 stolen bases and a .268 batting average. His season supplied offensive production alongside his work at second base.

Defense is a major part of his case. He earned another Gold Glove and was also selected as Milwaukee’s team MVP by the local BBWAA chapter. That club honor is separate from the league award now awaiting announcement.

Turang’s profile broadens the National League discussion. Crow-Armstrong brings the power-speed milestone and Ohtani supplies two-way value; Turang’s case combines run production with outstanding infield defense.

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How does MLB MVP voting work?

Each league’s award has 30 voters. Each voter ranks ten players, with points assigned according to ballot position: A first-place vote earns 14 points, second place earns nine and the remaining places descend from eight points to one.

The three announced finalists are the players who finished highest in that voting. There isn’t another round of ballots restricted to those names, and fans don’t vote to determine the BBWAA MVP winners.

That also explains why “finalist” is more precise than “nominee” here. The announcement reveals part of an existing result; it doesn’t begin the selection process.

Do playoff and World Series performances count?

No. BBWAA voters submit their ballots before the postseason, and the MVP instructions specify that only regular-season performances should be considered.

A memorable October can change how fans discuss a player, but it can’t add points to an MVP ballot that’s already been submitted. The league award recognizes the regular-season body of work.

When will the 2026 MLB MVP winners be announced?

The American League and National League winners will be revealed on Thursday, November 12, during MLB Network’s announcement show beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Until then, the debate offers six distinct versions of value: Alvarez’s hitting, Caminero’s power and durability, Witt’s all-around contribution, Crow-Armstrong’s power-speed combination, Ohtani’s two-way production and Turang’s offense-defense balance.

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