{"id":113074,"date":"2026-01-28T21:19:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T02:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=113074"},"modified":"2026-01-28T21:19:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T02:19:25","slug":"3-nl-mvp-candidates-for-2026-not-named-shohei-ohtani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/28\/3-nl-mvp-candidates-for-2026-not-named-shohei-ohtani\/","title":{"rendered":"3 NL MVP Candidates for 2026 Not Named Shohei Ohtani"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shohei Ohtani<\/a> has spent the better part of the last decade bending MVP races to his will. When he\u2019s healthy, the conversation often feels predetermined. But heading into the 2026 National League season, there\u2019s a growing sense that the door is open for another superstar to seize the accolade.<\/p>\n

In the event Ohanti gets hurt or has an offseason, suddenly, the MVP race becomes what it\u2019s supposed to be: a battle of dominance, durability, leadership, and moments that define a season. These three players aren\u2019t just statistical marvels\u2014they\u2019re franchise cornerstones capable of shaping the entire NL landscape in 2026.<\/p>\n

1. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. \u2013 Atlanta Braves<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"
Jul 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) losses his helmet after scoring a run in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr<\/a>. remains the gold standard for modern superstardom.<\/p>\n

When healthy, Acu\u00f1a does everything\u2014hits for power, steals bases at will, plays premium outfield defense, and sets the tone for one of baseball\u2019s most consistently dominant teams. His game is loud, relentless, and impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n

What makes Acu\u00f1a especially dangerous in the 2026 MVP race is that his peak hasn\u2019t disappeared\u2014it\u2019s just waiting for a full season. The Braves<\/a> will once again be in the thick of the playoff hunt, and voters historically reward elite players who anchor elite teams.<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a doesn\u2019t need narrative help. If he flirts with another 40\u201340 caliber season, leads the league in runs, and reminds everyone why pitchers fear leadoff hitters again, the MVP conversation may start\u2014and end\u2014with him.<\/p>\n

2. Juan Soto \u2013 New York Mets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Juan
Jul 4, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) rounds third base in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If MVPs were handed out for controlling the strike zone, Juan Soto<\/a> would already have a shelf full of them.<\/p>\n

By 2026, Soto\u2019s case will become impossible to ignore. He\u2019s entering his prime years with an offensive profile built for MVP voting: elite on-base percentage, massive power, and a patient approach that exhausts pitchers and reshapes games.<\/p>\n

What elevates Soto into true MVP territory is context. As the centerpiece of the Mets\u2019 lineup, his performance will be directly tied to team success. If New York<\/a> contends\u2014or wins the NL East\u2014Soto will be the face of that push.<\/p>\n

Voters love transformative stars, and Soto has that ability. A season featuring 45-plus home runs, a .420 OBP, and league-leading run production would make him not just an MVP candidate, but the MVP favorite in a post-Ohtani vacuum.<\/p>\n

3. Corbin Carroll \u2013 Arizona Diamondbacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Every MVP race needs a player who feels like the future arriving early. Corbin Carroll<\/a> is that player.<\/p>\n

Carroll\u2019s value goes far beyond the box score. His speed changes defensive alignments, his instincts turn singles into doubles, and his glove quietly saves runs in key moments. By 2026, he could be the unquestioned leader of a Diamondbacks<\/a> team built around athleticism and pressure.<\/p>\n

What makes Carroll\u2019s MVP case compelling is how dynamic his impact feels. He doesn\u2019t wait for three-run homers\u2014he manufactures chaos. If Arizona stays relevant in the playoff picture, Carroll\u2019s blend of power, speed, and defensive excellence will resonate with voters looking for complete players.<\/p>\n

A 30-homer, 50-steal season from a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder? That\u2019s not just MVP-worthy\u2014it\u2019s headline-grabbing.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 2026 NL MVP race won\u2019t be about novelty or reputation. It will be about who defines the season\u2014who shows up every night, lifts a contender, and delivers when the league is watching.<\/p>\n

If Shohei Ohtani leaves even the smallest opening, Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr., Juan Soto, and Corbin Carroll are ready to take control of the National League.<\/p>\n

And by October, one of them will have turned opportunity into legacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shohei Ohtani has spent the better part of the last decade bending MVP races to his will. When he\u2019s healthy, the conversation often feels predetermined. But heading into the 2026 National League season, there\u2019s a growing sense that the door is open for another superstar to seize the accolade. In the event Ohanti gets hurt […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5710,"featured_media":85897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"641","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,29,21,2,1071,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-diamondbacks","category-braves","category-featured","category-mlb","category-mets"],"modified_by":"Eddie Lennon, Staff Writer","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5710"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113074"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113078,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113074\/revisions\/113078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}