Yordan Álvarez wins 2026 Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, ending Ohtani’s streak

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Yordan Álvarez has been presented with the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, the Major League Baseball honour recognizing the top designated hitter performance of the season. The award was handed out Wednesday night in Las Vegas during the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards, with Alvarez becoming the first player at the DH spot not named Shohei Ohtani to win since 2020 and the first Astros player to earn the award.

The ceremony included remarks from Jeff Bagwell, a Hall of Famer and former Astros slugger, who joked he “might have been the worst DH in the history of baseball.” Bagwell’s playing record at the position was limited to 51 career plate appearances at designated hitter, including eight in the 2005 World Series, and his DH splits included more strikeouts (14) than hits (nine).

In positioning the award around the unique demands of the designated hitter role, the announcement underscored that DHs typically see the field only a handful of times each game while still needing to deliver at-bats at a high level. Alvarez’s 2026 output was presented as the standard by which other DHs were measured across Major League Baseball.

The league noted that Alvarez is a finalist for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, which is scheduled to be announced Thursday. He also joined the group of DH winners across recent years that have been shaped by Ohtani’s dominance, with the league stating that Ohtani had won the award five consecutive times prior to this season, tying David Ortiz (2003–07) for the most consecutive DH award wins since the award’s inception in 1973.

The Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award was renamed in 2004 to honour Martínez, who spent his entire 18-year Major League career with the Seattle Mariners and won the award five times: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. According to the league, ballots are cast by club beat writers, broadcasters, and public relations departments, with nominees including all players who meet a minimum threshold of 100 at-bats as a designated hitter.

For 2026, MLB said Alvarez played 134 games at designated hitter for the Astros and recorded a slash line of .305/.422/.575 with 34 home runs and 83 RBIs as a DH. The award announcement also highlighted that Alvarez’s broader offensive season could lead to additional recognition later this month, with MLB listing other categories for which he is eligible.

The league further credited Alvarez’s all-around offensive production beyond the raw DH numbers. MLB stated that Alvarez won the American League batting title with a .316 average, led the league in on-base percentage (.432), slugging percentage (.601), OPS (1.033), and offensive WAR (7.2), and paced the league in total bases (341), walks (109), and extra-base hits (77).

In addition, MLB said Alvarez finished second in RBIs with 106 and tied for second in home runs with 42, with both totals identified as career highs. The award announcement also noted that Alvarez started 24 games in left field during the 2026 season, underscoring that his production came from both his designated hitter role and time in the outfield.

Alvarez’s selection as the Outstanding DH winner also comes alongside further award consideration. MLB said he is a finalist for the American League Silver Slugger Award at designated hitter, which will be announced on Tuesday, and that the American League MVP—chosen by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America—is scheduled to be announced from 6–7 p.m. CT Thursday on MLB Network and MLB+.

By winning the award, Alvarez becomes the first Astros player to take home the Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, marking a shift in a designation that had recently been dominated by Ohtani. With the AL MVP and Silver Slugger awards still to come, the league framed Alvarez’s 2026 season as one capable of producing multiple end-of-season honours.