Vancouver Sports Desk: MLB reveals 2026 MVP finalists ahead of AL and NL winners on Thursday

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Major League Baseball has put six players forward for the 2026 Most Valuable Player Awards, with the American League field led by Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and the National League lineup headlined by Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang. MLB’s MVP announcements are scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, meaning fans will learn the league winners after the finalists have been identified.

In the American League, Alvarez headlines the candidacy after a season in which his overall production was described as dominant despite a power drought in August. MLB’s case for Alvarez cites the AL batting title with a .316 average, along with league-leading on-base percentage (.432), slugging percentage (.601) and OPS (1.033). The same MVP profile also credits him with 341 total bases, 109 walks, 77 extra-base hits, and Baseball-Reference offensive WAR of 7.2, while noting he finished second in RBIs (106) and tied for second in home runs (42), both described as career highs.

The Alvarez profile also ties his MVP case to a stretch of months where he was repeatedly recognized by the league. It says he was named AL Player of the Month in March/April and July and that he led the Majors in batting average, OBP and slugging, becoming the fourth player this century to top MLB in all three categories. MLB’s listed comparisons include Aaron Judge in 2025, Miguel Cabrera in 2013 and Barry Bonds in 2002, and it adds that the previous three players in that group were named MVP in their respective leagues.

Another element highlighted in MLB’s MVP case is Alvarez’s ability to force opposing batters into specific pitching decisions. MLB notes Alvarez drew 33 intentional walks, breaking Jeff Bagwell’s club record of 27 set in 1997, and states that the only player in AL history with more intentional walks in a season was Judge, who drew 36 last year. MLB further points to Statcast-based measures, saying Alvarez led qualified hitters in expected wOBA (.442), expected batting average (.318) and expected slugging (.636), and ranked in the 99th percentile in average exit velocity (94.4 mph).

Caminero represents the other side of the AL debate, with MLB framing his case as more narrative and less reliant on a head-to-head statistical comparison. MLB notes Caminero and Alvarez hit the same number of home runs, while Alvarez drove in five more runs, and it contrasts OPS+ marks of 190 for Alvarez versus 144 for Caminero. The profile also points out that Alvarez outpaced Caminero in wins above replacement figures across Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs.

In that context, MLB emphasizes team performance and role demands. It says the Rays, with Caminero, dramatically outperformed preseason expectations and won 98 games compared to the Astros’ 81. The profile also stresses that Caminero started 161 games at third base, highlighting the daily defensive load compared with Alvarez, who it says started 25 of 158 games in left field. MLB adds that while Caminero was not described as a Gold Glove-caliber defender, he improved significantly over the season.

MLB’s Caminero case then turns to the offensive profile and plate-approach development. The finalist is described as one of the top hitters in the AL, with a 142 wRC+ that MLB says ranked sixth in the league behind Alvarez, Randy Arozarena, Willson Contreras, Ben Rice and Pete Alonso. MLB lists his line as .276/.360/.524 with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs, along with 79 walks (nearly twice as many as his first full season) and 129 strikeouts, described as rare for a young hitter with his power.

Bobby Witt Jr. rounds out the AL finalists as MLB frames his MVP argument around all-around impact. MLB’s profile highlights his 94 runs scored in 2026 and contrasts it with Alvarez (105) and Caminero (100), then attributes part of that context to the overall offensive environments around each player. It says the Royals ranked 22nd in Major League Baseball with 690 runs scored, while their .694 OPS with runners in scoring position was lower than the Rays and Astros (.774).

The profile uses base-running and opportunity creation as central support for Witt’s value. MLB says that, according to Baseball-Reference, Witt took an extra base on 66.7% of his opportunities compared to 36% for Caminero and 22.9% for Alvarez, and it notes Witt’s total of 45 stolen bases, described as the second most in the AL. It also credits him with a career-high 67 walks, presenting those plate appearances as additional chances to leverage his speed.

MLB further describes Witt’s offense and defense as complementary parts of his case. The profile says Witt led qualified AL shortstops in batting average (.281), doubles (33) and slugging percentage (.441). It also points to fielding impact, stating his +24 outs above average led all Major Leaguers at the position, and adds that despite a first career injured list stint limiting him to 143 games, Witt accumulated an AL-best 7.0 fWAR.

In the National League, the finalist list is presented as an unusually high-end match-up, with Crow-Armstrong, Ohtani and Turang joining the MVP ballot. MLB says Crow-Armstrong has been viewed as a favorite after what the profile calls a phenomenal 2026 season on both offense and defense, and it highlights a season-long performance as a key reason he could separate from the pack.

MLB’s profile of Crow-Armstrong emphasizes an all-around statistical and defensive footprint. It says he finished with an MLB-leading 10.6 fWAR, 3.6 WAR ahead of second-ranked Bobby Witt Jr. (7.0) of the Royals, and claims that no season since 1956 has featured a gap of at least 3.0 WAR between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players. The profile reports that Crow-Armstrong tied Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead in home runs with 45, finished second in the NL in stolen bases with 41, and became the seventh player in MLB history to produce a 40-40 season.

The MLB case for Crow-Armstrong also lists a full-season offensive line and league-leading production on offense. It says he played all 162 games, posted a .372 on-base percentage, led the NL in slugging (.570) and OPS (.942), had 83 walks and 107 RBIs, and led baseball with 119 runs. On defense, MLB says his +26 fielding run value set a Statcast-era record for an outfielder, and his +26 outs above average tied Byron Buxton (2017) for the most by an outfielder.

Shohei Ohtani is the other NL finalist, with MLB presenting his case through the lens of his two-way value. The profile says Ohtani posted a 143 OPS+ and hit 30 home runs with an .889 OPS, while adding pitching production of 85 2/3 innings with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA and 237 ERA+. MLB also says injuries affected his two-way season, noting he did not pitch after July 3 and dealt with ongoing left knee and right biceps issues that culminated in a season-ending slump at the plate.

The third NL finalist is Brice Turang, whom MLB frames as a player whose game keeps rising year to year. MLB notes Turang set career highs in home runs (21), RBIs (100), on-base percentage (.366) and slugging percentage (.450) in 2026, while stealing 19 bases and playing Gold Glove defense at second base. The profile adds that it was his best when it mattered most, citing MLB’s description that he led the Majors for September in average (.361) and on-base percentage (.475) as the Brewers secured MLB’s best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

MLB’s Turang profile also ties his candidacy to Brewers organizational history and includes a public statement from incoming manager Pat Murphy. MLB says Murphy predicted a “quantum leap” and quotes him directly saying, “He plays every day, whether he's injured or not. Plays every day, 'He's a force on the bases. Is a force at the plate. Will get a bunt down when you need it. Hit a homer. Hit a double. He's a baseball rat. This guy loves baseball. This year he went from 'good player' to, like, a dude.'” MLB then adds that Turang would become the first Brewers infielder to finish top 3 in MVP balloting since Prince Fielder finished third in 2011 and the first Brewers middle infielder to finish in the top three since Robin Yount won AL MVP at shortstop in 1982.

With the six finalists now set, the primary remaining question is which player MLB will choose as MVP in each league at 7 p.m. ET. The league’s televised awards coverage will determine whether Alvarez, Caminero or Witt Jr. will take the AL honour, and whether Crow-Armstrong, Ohtani or Turang will be named NL MVP.