Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez Win 2026 MLB MVP Awards

The MLB season has been over for a bit now, but the league has officially crowned its Most Valuable Players for the 2026 season. And both were unanimous selections.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong took home National League MVP honors, while Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was named American League MVP. Both players put together phenomenal seasons, and though their teams fell short in the playoffs, their regular-season performances were undeniable, which is why they were unanimous selections.

What's also fascinating about this pair of winners is that they're both first-time MVPs. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge have dominated this conversation for a while now, but these two had seasons that were simply better than anybody else's.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Wins National League MVP

Crow-Armstrong was one of the most exciting players in baseball this season, making an impact in nearly every aspect of the game as a hitter and as a fielder. And he's still extremely young. This could be the first of several MVP awards for him at just 24 years old.

He finished the season with a .280 batting average, 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases, joining Ohtani in the exclusive 40-40 club. Crow-Armstrong is also one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, showcasing his range, athleticism and ability to cover ground in center field.

After earning all 30 first-place votes, he finished ahead of Ohtani and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang. Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player to win MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016.

Yordan Alvarez Takes Home American League MVP

Alvarez has been known for being a power hitter who opposing pitchers hate to see in the playoffs. But this year, he did it throughout the regular season as well. The 29-year-old hit .316 with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs while leading MLB in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.

Simply put, when it came to hitting the ball, nobody did it better. Although he was a designated hitter most of the season, his production at the plate was plenty. He didn't need to be in the field often to make this Astros team much better.

He also received all 30 first-place votes in his league, finishing ahead of Tampa Bay Rays star Junior Caminero and Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. Alvarez became the first Astros player to win MVP since Jose Altuve in 2017.

It's a rare accomplishment for both players, with new MVPs bucking the trend and both awards being well deserved.