{"id":113675,"date":"2026-02-07T21:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T02:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=113675"},"modified":"2026-02-07T21:31:05","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T02:31:05","slug":"four-nl-players-who-could-take-home-their-first-mvp-award-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/02\/07\/four-nl-players-who-could-take-home-their-first-mvp-award-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Four NL Players Who Could Take Home Their First MVP Award in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shohei Ohtani<\/a> has claimed the National League Most Valuable Player Award in back-to-back seasons<\/a>, as the ultra-talented two-way player has flashed brilliance in his two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the Japanese superstar will be tough to dethrone, the NL contains many stars who could take the title from Ohtani in 2026. Here is a look at four players: Corbin Carroll<\/a>, Elly De La Cruz<\/a>, Francisco Lindor<\/a>, and Juan Soto<\/a>, who could win their first NL MVP award next year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Four Candidates to Win Their First NL MVP in 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

Corbin Carroll<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks\u2019 star outfielder is entering year five of his MLB career. Through his career, Carroll has an average of .258, 82 home runs, 248 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of .341. The 25-year-old finished fifth in the voting in 2023, a year that saw him bat .285 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI, and a total of 54 stolen bases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Reds
Aug 24, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll (7) celebrates his two run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A two-time All-Star, Carroll posted a slash line of .259\/.343\/.541 with both a career high 31 home runs and 84 RBI. MLB\u2019s leader in triples with 17, Carroll flashes a speed element that is dangerous on the bases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carroll was only able to appear in 143 games in 2025 after suffering a left wrist fracture<\/a> after being hit by a pitch in late June. The injury cost Carroll just over two weeks on the injured list, returning to action on July 5th. Upon his return, Carroll struggled, batting .221 with only one home run and three steals over the rest of July.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A fully healthy season out of Carroll could lead to the outfielder bringing home his first-ever MVP award in 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elly De La Cruz<\/b><\/h3>\n

De La Cruz is entering year four of his MLB career and has long been named as a player who, if he can put all his tools together, could become a serious candidate for the NL MVP award. The Reds\u2019 shortstop batted .264 with 22 home runs and 86 RBI in 2025, while stealing 37 bases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

De La Cruz\u2019s power numbers dipped in 2025, slipping from the 25 the shortstop hit in 2024. August was unkind to the 24-year-old, as De La Cruz hit .224 with zero home runs and five RBI. De La Cruz can hit the ball as hard as any player in baseball, finding himself in the top one percent, top six percent, and top two percent for max exit velocity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A career slash line of .255\/.329\/.445, De La Cruz has stolen 139 bases across his first three years, while only being caught 32 times. A player who can change the game with one swing, while playing his home games in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, De La Cruz could challenge for the NL MVP award if all aspects of his game gel together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Francisco Lindor\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Lindor has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting in each of the past four years, including a runner-up finish to Ohtani in 2024. The 32-year-old appeared in 160 games last season, batting .267 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and totaling 31 steals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The five-time All-Star has posted a career slash line of .273\/.342\/.475 over 11 seasons, with both the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets. Lindor has posted six seasons with at least 30 home runs, including the past three with the Mets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With a loaded Mets lineup that includes Soto, Bo Bichette<\/a>, Marcus Semien<\/a>, Jorge Polanco<\/a>, and Luis Robert Jr.<\/a>, Lindor will be tasked with setting the table for the players behind him. After finishing with 117 runs scored in 2025, the fourth most in MLB and tied for the 10th most hits with 172, Lindor\u2019s numbers could take an even bigger leap with a stronger Mets lineup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The only MLB players with three straight seasons of 20 2B, 30 HR, 85 RBI & 85 R:<\/p>\n

Juan Soto
\nFrancisco Lindor
\nShohei Ohtani
\nPete Alonso<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

H\/T @MetsScope<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vaX6wuT2Hr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperMets (@SleeperMets) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n