Major League Baseball’s award season begins after the World Series champion is crowned.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) will start its week of awards on November 9, 2026, with the Rookie of the Year awards, a tradition dating to 1947 when Jackie Robinson was the first winner.
Rookie of the Year Awards Kick Off the Week
The BBWAA awards season opens on November 9, 2026, recognizing the top rookies from the 2026 season. The Rookie of the Year award has a long history, with Jackie Robinson being the first recipient in 1947. Last year’s winners were Nick Kurtz of the Athletics (first baseman) and Drake Baldwin of the Braves (catcher).
Manager of the Year Honors on November 10
The next day, on November 10, 2026, the BBWAA will announce its Manager of the Year awards for each league. This award recognizes the best manager based solely on regular-season performance. Last year’s winners were Stephen Vogt of the Guardians and Pat Murphy of the Brewers, who won the award for the second season.
Cy Young, Reliever of the Year, and All-MLB Teams Announced November 11
November 11 will be a major day for MLB awards, with several key honors being announced. First, the BBWAA will reveal its Cy Young Award winners, recognizing the best pitchers in each league. The Cy Young Award has been presented since 1956. From 1956 to 1966, it was given to the best pitcher in all of MLB, but since 1967, it has been awarded separately to one pitcher from each league.
Also on November 11, the BBWAA will announce its new Reliever of the Year award for the first time. The 2026 season marks the first year the BBWAA is recognizing the top relievers in MLB. Voters from the association will select the best reliever in each league, with the winners announced alongside the Cy Young winners between 7 and 8 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
The same night will see the reveal of the All-MLB Teams, created in 2019 to recognize players’ performance throughout the entire season, unlike the All-Star Game selections, which are based on the first half of the season.
Fans were invited to vote on MLB.com to help select the First and Second Team members at each position, including three outfielders, one designated hitter, five starting pitchers, and two relievers from this year’s nominees. The First and Second All-MLB Teams will be unveiled during the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards ceremony, airing on MLB Network starting at 9 p.m. ET.
The ceremony will also announce the Hank Award winners, Comeback Player of the Year awards, Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year awards, the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, and the MLB Executive of the Year Award.
Hank Award, Comeback Player, and Reliever Awards
The Hank Award, given annually to the best offensive player in each league, is decided by a combination of fan voting and a panel of Hall of Fame members. The finalists were announced on October 5, 2026. Last year’s winners were Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers.
The Comeback Player of the Year awards honor one player from each league who overcame adversity to return to a high level of performance in MLB. Last year’s winners were Jacob deGrom of the Rangers (pitcher) and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves (outfielder).
The Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Reliever of the Year Awards, created in 2014 and named after the Hall of Fame closers, recognize the top reliever in each league. Last year’s winners were Edwin Díaz and Aroldis Chapman.
Edgar Martínez and Executive of the Year Awards
The Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award has been given since the American League adopted the designated hitter rule in 1973. In 2004, it was renamed in honor of Hall of Famer Edgar Martínez, who won the award five times. Shohei Ohtani won the award last season.
The Executive of the Year Award will be announced during the General Managers Meetings, which will be held in Las Vegas this year. Like other awards, the voting is completed before the start of the postseason, so playoff results are not taken into account. Last year’s winner was Matt Arnold of the Brewers, who won for the second year.
Most Valuable Player Awards on November 12
The BBWAA will announce its Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards on November 12, 2026. Yordan Álvarez of the Astros (hitter) and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs (center fielder) are considered the top contenders to win the MVP in their respective leagues this season.
It will be the first time since 2020 that neither Aaron Judge nor Shohei Ohtani has won the award. Last year, Judge and Ohtani became the first pair of players to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons.
Silver Slugger and Platinum Glove Awards on November 17
The Silver Slugger Awards, recognizing the best offensive player at each position in both leagues since 1980, will be presented on November 17. These awards are voted on by managers and coaches of MLB.
This will be the fifth year a separate award is given to players with multiple positions, due to the growing presence of versatile defenders. The Silver Slugger finalists were announced by Louisville Slugger on November 5 at 11 a.m. ET.
The Platinum Glove Awards, which recognize the best defensive player in each league, were announced during the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards dinner in New York City, where the Gold Glove winners received their trophies. The 2026 Platinum Glove winners were Cody Bellinger of the Yankees and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs.
This award is given by the MLB Players Association and is decided by votes from former and active players. It recognizes the active player who “demonstrates a passion for the game and best represents the values, spirit, and traditions of baseball.” Each of the 30 teams had a nominee, and from that group, a winner was chosen and announced by MLB Network.
Clemente Award Presented Before World Series Game 3
Widely considered one of the most prestigious awards in baseball, the Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the player who best represents the game through exemplary character, community involvement, philanthropic work, and positive contributions on and off the field. Each team nominates one player for the Clemente Award, and the nominees were announced in September. The 2026 winner was Francisco Lindor of the Mets.
MLB Awards Conclude on November 17
The full slate of MLB awards concludes with the Silver Slugger and Platinum Glove presentations on November 17. The league will continue to honor its players throughout the offseason.
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