Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle was named the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday in a runaway victory over fellow finalists Parker Messick and Payton Tolle.
McGonigle earned 28 of 30 first-place votes from the BBWAA. Messick, who is also a finalist for the AL Cy Young, was the only other player to receive first-place votes and be named on every ballot.
| Player | Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin McGonigle | Tigers | 28 | 2 | 204 | |
| 2 | Parker Messick | Guardians | 2 | 25 | 3 | 122 |
| 3 | Payton Tolle | Red Sox | 12 | 54 | ||
| 4 | Munetaka Murakami | White Sox | 2 | 7 | 39 | |
| 5 | Carter Jensen | Royals | 4 | 31 |
"I don't really know how to put it in words. ... I'm super grateful, I'm humble, and thankful for this," McGonigle said, per MLB Network.
McGonigle slashed .278/.376/.430 with 18 homers, 72 RBIs, 97 runs scored, and 12 steals. His 7.1 bWAR led all AL players, and he also finished top 10 in his league in OBP, hits, and total bases while tallying just five more strikeouts (100) than walks (95). McGonigle was the first rookie to finish with at least 97 runs scored, 28 doubles, 18 homers, 72 RBIs, and 95 walks since Ted Williams in 1939.
Defensively, McGonigle jumped between shortstop and third base seamlessly, appearing in 96 games at shortstop and 94 at the hot corner while collecting 10 total defensive runs saved.
The 22-year-old is the first Tigers infielder to be named AL Rookie of the Year since franchise icon Lou Whitaker in 1978. He's the sixth winner in franchise history.
