Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez both just took home unanimous MVP awards, lighting up their respective leagues with seasons that belonged in a video game. These guys didn’t just win; they absolutely dominated the ballot, leaving no doubt who the best of the best were in 2026. This isn’t just about big numbers, it’s about setting a new standard for what a superstar season looks like.
Crow-Armstrong Blew Away the National League
Let’s talk about Pete Crow-Armstrong first, because his NL MVP campaign for the Chicago Cubs was a full-on masterclass. This center fielder had a majestic all-around season, setting career highs across the board with a .280 batting average, 45 homers, 107 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases in a full 162 games. Forty-five bombs AND 41 steals? That’s just wild. He tied Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead in homers, which is insane, and then led the entire NL in runs with 119, slugging percentage at .570, and OPS at .942.
But hold up, it gets even better. Crow-Armstrong wasn’t just mashing at the plate; he was a premier defensive player, too. He grabbed his second Gold Glove, and get this, he led the majors with a mind-blowing 26 Outs Above Average and 23 Runs Prevented, according to Baseball Savant. We’re talking about a guy doing it all at an elite level. Cubs manager Craig Counsell summed it up perfectly after Crow-Armstrong homered twice in an 8-4 win over Atlanta back on September 16, saying, “You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field. You’re grateful to be a part of it. You’re grateful to see things like this and then you’re grateful that the fans get to see a season like this.” He got all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, leaving four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in second and Brice Turang in third. The 24-year-old, who signed a massive $115 million, six-year deal in March, is the first Cubs NL MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016, and you can see why. This dude improved significantly after a breakout 2025 season where he hit .247 with 31 homers and 95 RBIs, helping the Cubs get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. What a trajectory!
Yordan Alvarez Crushed the American League
Over in the American League, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was equally unstoppable, taking home the AL MVP award unanimously after a season where he made a serious run at the Triple Crown. The guy hit a career-high .316 with 42 homers and 106 RBIs for the AL West champions. He wasn’t just good, he was *the* guy, leading the majors in batting average. Alvarez finished tied for second in the AL in homers and was second by himself in RBIs, trailing only Pete Alonso’s 43 homers and 113 RBIs for Baltimore.
Sure, Alvarez was Houston’s primary designated hitter, but his offensive brilliance was so off-the-charts that any limited defensive contributions just didn’t matter. This four-time All-Star also led the majors in walks with 109, on-base percentage at .432, and slugging percentage at .601. Talk about a complete hitter! The 29-year-old became the first AL MVP from Houston since Jose Altuve in 2017. He beat out Junior Caminero, who had a killer season himself with a .276 average, 42 homers, and 101 RBIs for Tampa Bay, and Bobby Witt Jr. Alvarez’s career has been nothing short of spectacular since he broke into the majors in 2019, earning AL Rookie of the Year by hitting .313 with 27 homers and 78 RBIs in only 87 games. He was even ALCS MVP in 2021 and helped the Astros snag the 2022 World Series championship. In eight big league seasons, this guy is a .300 hitter with 212 homers and 599 RBIs. That’s a serious resume!
These guys just set the bar for greatness with truly unanimous MVP seasons. Their numbers are jaw-dropping, their impact undeniable. What a year for these two absolute studs, and we’re all watching to see what magic they bring next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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