2026 National League Rookie of the Year Award, Digi Mart USA News: The 2026 Rookie of the Year Award is one of the more fascinating award races this year, at least in the National League, while Kevin McGonigle should run away with the American League version. New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge is one of three finalists, alongside St.
Louis Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt and Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Sal Stewart, who plays mostly first base. The race was hotly contested, and a few players were snubbed as finalists, including Mets starter Nolan McLean and Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield.
JJ Wetherholt represents the season-long interpretation of the award. He looked like the runaway favorite for months, thanks to exceptional defense at second base (+25 DRS) and league-average offense (101 wRC+).
Despite playing only 139 games, he led all National League rookies in fWAR with 4.6 and trailed only Kevin McGonigle among all rookies. He was steady from the start and missed a few weeks with wrist tendonitis, making him the safer vote.
Sal Stewart represents a vote with an older-school flair. He was a mediocre defender at first base (-2 DRS), and his 112 wRC+ and 2.0 fWAR, fifth among NL rookies and 17th among all rookies, leave it fair to wonder how he became a finalist.
His case rests on counting stats. Stewart hit 32 home runs, the most among NL rookies and behind only Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto overall, and drove in 112 runs, twenty more than any other rookie and third in all of baseball.
His .263/.330/.457 slash line makes those numbers look even better.
Carson Benge combines elements of both arguments. His 4.3 fWAR ranks second among NL rookies and third among all rookies, pairing an above-average bat (118 wRC+) with solid defense (+1 DRS).
He finished the season with 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases, a 20/20 campaign. Benge struggled badly to start, posting a 48 wRC+ in April, but rebounded to a 128 wRC+ in May, cooled to 108 in June, and then finished strong with 126, 143 and 147 wRC+ in July, August and September.
According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Benge is the 18th player in MLB history to reach 20/20 as a rookie, and eight of those 18 did it in their debut season, Benge included.
Any of these three players could win the award, and none of the outcomes should be surprising. If forced to guess, the author expects Stewart to get the nod, since a 32-home run, 112-RBI season is unlikely to be ignored by voters.
Even so, Benge offers a distinctive blend of analytical, traditional and narrative arguments that may be underrated in the conversation.
