The Baseball Writers’ Association of America named Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle the American League Rookie of the Year and Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart the National League winner on Monday night, rewarding two position players who produced at a high level from Opening Day onward.
McGonigle dominated the AL balloting, receiving 28 of 30 first-place votes. Guardians left-hander Parker Messick collected the other two. Stewart earned 20 of 30 first-place votes in the NL race, ahead of Mets outfielder Carson Benge (seven) and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (three).
Kevin McGonigle: All-Around Impact in Detroit
McGonigle, who turned 22 during the season, lived up to his status as one of baseball’s top prospects. The left-handed hitter batted .278/.376/.430 with an .806 OPS across 156 games and 707 plate appearances. He finished with 168 hits, 28 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 97 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases while drawing 95 walks against 100 strikeouts.
His production extended beyond the box score. McGonigle led the American League with 7.1 wins above replacement according to Baseball-Reference, ranking among the league’s most valuable players regardless of experience. He split time between shortstop and third base, providing defensive value alongside his on-base skills and contact ability. He became the first Tigers position player to win the award since Lou Whitaker in 1978 and the first Detroit winner overall since pitcher Michael Fulmer in 2016. The Tigers signed him to a long-term extension early in the season, underscoring the organization’s confidence in him as a cornerstone.
Sal Stewart: Power Production for the Reds
Stewart, also 22, delivered a more traditional power-driven rookie campaign. He appeared in all 162 games and hit .263/.330/.457 with a .787 OPS. The right-handed hitter blasted 32 home runs and drove in 112 runs while adding 25 doubles, 87 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. He drew 63 walks and struck out 155 times.
Stewart became the first Reds rookie—and only the 15th rookie in major league history—to reach the 30-home-run, 100-RBI plateau in a season. Every previous rookie to accomplish the feat since the award began in 1947 went on to win Rookie of the Year. He primarily played first base while also logging time at third and second, and he earned All-Star recognition after strong stretches that included NL Rookie of the Month honors in March/April and August. Stewart is the ninth Red to win the award, tying the franchise with the Athletics for the fourth-most winners all time and ending a five-year drought since Jonathan India took the honor in 2021.
Both winners entered the majors with high expectations and delivered immediately. McGonigle’s combination of plate discipline, extra-base production, and positional versatility set a high bar in the American League, while Stewart’s durability and middle-of-the-order power supplied the counting stats that have long defined the National League award. Their selections cap a strong rookie class and give both the Tigers and Reds young foundations as they look ahead.
