«Sembra che tutti gli altri avessero la sensazione che avrei vinto, tranne me», said Yordan Álvarez after winning the award.
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Álvarez won the 2026 American League Most Valuable Player award unanimously, securing all 30 first-place votes for 420 total points, as announced on Thursday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on MLB Network.
The native of Las Tunas, Cuba, joins Zoilo Versalles in 1965, José Canseco in 1988, and José Abreu in 2020 as the fourth Cuban-born player to win a regular-season MVP in Major League Baseball history.
Álvarez played a career-high 158 games during the 2026 season and led the majors across all three slash-line categories with a .316 batting average, a .432 on-base percentage, and a .601 slugging percentage, finishing with a 1.033 OPS.
He hit 42 home runs and drove in 106 runs, falling just one home run and seven RBIs short of capturing the Triple Crown.
Only five other players in major league history have led the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in a single season: Aaron Judge in 2025, Miguel Cabrera in 2013, Barry Bonds in 2002, Larry Walker in 1999, and George Brett in 1980.
The triumph followed a heavily interrupted 2025 campaign in which Álvarez appeared in only 48 games due to a fractured right hand and a severe left ankle sprain.
His return to the field brought a wave of accolades during MVP week, as he also claimed the American League Comeback Player of the Year award, the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, and the Hank Aaron Award.
«Questa stagione è stata molto diversa, semplicemente perché ero in salute», said Álvarez. «Quando ho sentito il mio nome è stata allora che è esplosa l’emozione. La sensazione è incredibile».
Álvarez became only the second designated hitter to win the American League MVP, following Shohei Ohtani, who accomplished the feat four times.
«Spero che questo apra la porta affinché più battitori designati possano vincere il premio», said Álvarez.
He is also the third Astros player to earn MVP honors, following Jeff Bagwell in the National League in 1994 and José Altuve in the American League in 2017.
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero finished second in the voting with 267 points, while Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. placed third with 188 points.
«Prima di tutto voglio complimentarmi con Yordan per aver vinto il MVP. È un giocatore incredibile e merita tutto il riconoscimento. Sono giovane, ho molto di più da dimostrare e questo mi motiva a continuare a migliorare. Il mio momento arriverà», said Caminero.
Winners of the 2026 Silver Slugger awards, featuring Cuban finalists Randy Arozarena and Miguel Vargas, will be announced on Monday, November 17.
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