{"id":113302,"date":"2026-02-02T17:35:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=113302"},"modified":"2026-02-02T17:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:35:44","slug":"four-candidates-to-take-home-their-first-a-l-mvp-award-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/02\/four-candidates-to-take-home-their-first-a-l-mvp-award-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Candidates To Take Home Their First A.L. MVP Award In 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last season, the American League saw Aaron Judge<\/a> and Cal Raleigh<\/a> go head-to-head in an AL Most Valuable Player race that was deemed a coin toss by many. In the end, Judge prevailed, taking home his second straight MVP and third overall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While dethroning Judge is no easy task, the AL boasts high-end talent and many players capable of putting together MVP-esque seasons. Here is a look at Gunnar Henderson<\/a>, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a>, Bobby Witt Jr.<\/a> and Yordan Alvarez<\/a> as players who could take home their first career MVP award in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunnar Henderson<\/b><\/h2>\n

The former 2023 Rookie of the Year<\/a>, Henderson, took a step back in 2025, much like the entire Baltimore Orioles team. The Orioles\u2019 shortstop began the season on the injured list with a right intercostal strain, which would end up costing him the first seven games of the regular season. Upon returning, Henderson struggled through most of April, batting .228 with three home runs, five RBIs and only a .268 OBP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Orioles ended up going 9-16 in April, a mark that was too tough for them to overcome. For the season, Henderson finished with a slash line of .274\/.349\/.438, to go along with 17 home runs and 68 RBI, both career lows for Henderson over the duration of a full season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2024, Henderson finished fourth overall in AL MVP voting, after a season that saw him bat .281, slug 37 home runs, the most in a season by an Orioles shortstop and drive in 92 runs. Henderson continued to be dynamic on the base paths in 2025, stealing a career high of 30 bases, while only being caught five times, bringing a power-speed combo that is so desirable around the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the offseason, the Orioles brought in<\/a> power bat Pete Alonso<\/a> on a five-year, $155 million contract. This move should help provide protection to Henderson, as the two will slot in the top half of the Orioles lineup together. A healthy spring training, combined with the addition of Alonso, could put Henderson in a strong spot to take a run at dethroning Judge as AL MVP in 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gunnar Henderson clobbers a go-ahead two-run homer in the 8th! pic.twitter.com\/sy6u6b5xNi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n