2026 MLB Rookie of the Year candidates: Ranking the top newcomers in the AL and NL

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The 2025 MLB season featured one of the greatest rookie seasons we’ve ever seen as the A’s Nick Kurtz swatted 36 home runs in just 117 games, winning American League Rookie of the Year honors in the process. Drake Baldwin took advantage of a catcher opening with the Braves and had an OPS of over .800 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs to win the award in the National League.

So what do this year’s young guns have in store for us? From top hitting prospects to young arms and some international stars as well, here we break down five favorites to win Rookie of the Year in each league for the 2026 season. 

Top contenders to win 2026 AL Rookie of the Year 

The AL field is loaded with high-upside international talent, young power bats and at least one arm who already looks ready for the spotlight.

Here are my preseason AL Rookie of the Year favorites:

1. Trey Yesavage (Toronto Blue Jays)

Yesavage’s rise with the Blue Jays has been meteoric. The tall right-hander was drafted in the first round in 2024, made his MLB debut in September and instantly became a postseason hero. Yesavage was the Jays’ go-to starter in the postseason, posting a 3.58 ERA across five starts and six total appearances. He has a devastating fastball-splitter combo he throws from seemingly 20 feet in the air, and Yesavage will now try to be a go-to guy for Toronto throughout all of 2026.

2. Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox)

What makes this year’s AL rookie class so intriguing is three Rookie of the Year contenders to watch all come from overseas. The White Sox signed Murakami, who hit 265 home runs in Japan in just over 1,000 games, to anchor the middle of their lineup. The big infielder/designated hitter has drawn comparisons to Kyle Schwarber, and he signed a short-term deal in Chicago that may prove to be a bargain should he hit like he did in Japan.

3. Kazuma Okamoto (Toronto Blue Jays) 

The Jays were busy this offseason and while they lost Bo Bichette to New York, they signed one of the best international bats on the market in Okamoto. Toronto’s new third baseman figures to be an instant contributor. He, like Murakami, comes to America after boasting elite power numbers in Japan, where he hit 248 home runs across 11 seasons. Toronto came up just short in the World Series, and Okamoto should give the Jays more firepower in the middle of their lineup. 

4. Tatsuya Imai (Houston Astros)

As far as arms go, the Astros’ signing of Imai may have slid under the radar. Imai filled an immediate need for Houston as the team lost Framber Valdez to Detroit in free agency, and he may well slot in as the team’s No. 2 starter behind ace Hunter Brown. Imai is hardly the most imposing figure at 5 foot 11 and 150+ pounds, but he dazzled across his final few seasons in Japan, pitching to no greater than 2.45 ERA over the last four years.  

5. Carter Jensen (Kansas City Royals)

Someone we did see a bit of late in the year was Jensen, who made the most of his brief opportunities with the Royals. The heir apparent to Salvador Perez behind the dish in Kansas City, Jensen put together a .300/.391/.550 slash line in 69 plate appearances with three home runs. He should have a sizable role with Kansas City in 2026, and it will be interesting to see how the team utilizes both him and Perez. 

Top contenders to win 2026 NL Rookie of the Year

In the NL, the group features elite prospects, electric young pitching and one of the most dynamic speed threats in the minors.

Here are my preseason NL Rookie of the Year favorites:

1. Konnor Griffin (Pittsburgh Pirates)

The game’s top prospect is in Pittsburgh as the 19-year-old Griffin is knocking on the MLB doorstep despite being 19 years old. He posted an OPS north of .900 while reaching Double-A last season and we could see him with the Pirates very soon given his skill and the team’s need for more impact bats. Griffin is seen by many as a cornerstone for the Pirates, which is key as the team must improve offensively to take the next step forward in 2026. Griffin should make an impact at some point – it’s just a matter of when.

2. JJ Wetherholt (St. Louis Cardinals)

Another top prospect in the NL Central is the Cardinals’ Wetherholt. He raked in college before being a top draft pick and he’s kept that up in the minors. Wetherholt reached Triple-A last year and put together a .931 OPS between two stops in 2025. With the Cardinals having traded elite utility man Brendan Donovan to the Mariners, Wetherholt has a clear path towards playing time early in 2026, if not right out of the gate.

3. Nolan McLean (New York Mets)

McLean burst onto the scene in limited MLB action last year, posting a 2.06 ERA in eight starts for the Mets with a 10.7 K/9 rate. He showcases elite stuff with solid command and has already proven he can get big leaguers out. McLean ran a strikeout rate over 30% in his eight starts last year with a six-pitch mix. The curveball in particular was devastating, and that should be his go-to out pitch across 2026.

4. Bubba Chandler (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Griffin is not the Pirates’ lone top prospect to watch in 2026. Chandler may well break camp in the rotation alongside reigning Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Chandler doesn’t have the same prospect pedigree as Skenes or Griffin – few have – but Chandler did well in seven MLB appearances last year with a 4.02 ERA. The Pirates have quietly put together an exciting group of young players and prospects that’s worth keeping a close eye on. 

5. Justin Crawford (Philadelphia Phillies)

If you like speed, this Phillies youngster is the guy for you. The son of former stolen base stud Carl Crawford, the younger Crawford doesn’t pose much of a power threat. But he hits for average and gets on base, as evidenced by a career .322 batting average and .385 on-base percentage in the minors. And while on base, Crawford really moves. He swiped 46 bases in Triple-A last season and should take advantage of recently-implemented rules that incentivize more action on the bases.