Alright, so Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez were just crowned the 2026 MLB Hank Aaron Award winners for the National and American Leagues on Wednesday. If you were paying attention this season, this should not be a shocker. These guys had utterly dominant seasons, making them the top offensive performers in their respective leagues, chosen by fans and a panel of Hall of Fame players. Honestly, with both of them tipped to snag their league MVP awards, this was pretty much a formality.
Alvarez’s Numbers Are Just Plain Filthy
Let’s talk about Yordan Alvarez, the 29-year-old Houston slugger. What a year for him. He led the entire American League with a ridiculous .316 batting average. That’s not just good, that’s elite. He was tied for second in the AL with 42 homers and second in RBI with 106. The dude also tied for third in runs scored with 105 and tied for fourth with 34 doubles. His 6.8 WAR among position players put him second in the league, and he flat-out led the AL in OPS with an absurd 1.033. You want to talk about impact? That’s impact. While guys like Pete Alonso (43 homers, 113 RBI, .884 OPS) and Junior Caminero (42 homers, 101 RBI, .885 OPS) had huge seasons, there’s just no denying what Alvarez did. He was on another level.
Crow-Armstrong’s Season: A True NL Superstar Emerges
Over in the National League, Pete Crow-Armstrong, at just 24 years old, put on an absolute show. He hit .280, but that’s just the start. He tied for first in the NL with a massive 45 homers and was the clear leader in runs scored with 119. He was third in RBI with 107 and tied for fifth with eight triples. Like Alvarez, Crow-Armstrong led his league in OPS with a .943 mark and was first in position-player WAR with an insane 9.8. Look, his defense is unbelievable, and that definitely boosts his MVP case, but his bat was without a doubt the most impactful in the NL this season. He earned that Hank Aaron Award, no question. Other hitters like Kyle Schwarber (45 homers, 97 RBI, .857 OPS) and James Wood (30 homers, 77 RBI, 106 runs, 21 stolen bases, .891 OPS) had strong campaigns, but Crow-Armstrong just stood out.
So what does this mean? It means the league saw two absolute titans of the game put up historic seasons. These guys aren’t just good, they’re setting the standard for offensive excellence. Get ready, because if these early awards are any indication, Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong are just getting started, and the MVP races are going to be even more interesting when those announcements drop!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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