Pete Crow-Armstrong unanimously ends Shohei Ohtani's run as NL MVP, Yordan Alvarez takes AL MVP for Astros

Crow-Armstrong's remarkable 2026 season, which saw him hit 45 home runs and steal 41 bases while playing elite defense in center field, earned him unanimous recognition as the National League's most valuable player. The Chicago Cubs outfielder's performance officially ended Ohtani's three-year run as the NL MVP, with Ohtani having won the award in both 2024 and 2025.

The Cubs' star made significant improvements from his 2025 season, dramatically increasing his walk rate from 4.5% to 11.4% while boosting his bat speed from 72.7 mph to 75.1 mph. These improvements resulted in a .280 batting average with a .372 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage, making him 57% better than league average offensively.

Elite Performance

Crow-Armstrong's defensive contributions were equally impressive. Playing center field, one of baseball's most demanding positions, he was worth 23 runs more than the average defender according to FanGraphs. This combination of elite offense and defense resulted in a 10.6-win season, placing him among the game's most valuable players.

AL MVP Victory

In the American League, Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez secured the MVP award with unanimous support. After an injury-plagued 2025, Alvarez returned with a dominant season, hitting 42 home runs with a .316/.432/.601 batting line and a 1.033 OPS, the highest in baseball.

Alvarez's 142 walks, including 33 intentional walks (more than double the next player), demonstrated the respect he commanded from opposing pitchers. Despite contributing defensively only as a designated hitter, his offensive impact was undeniable, contributing 60 runs to the Astros' success without which they would not have reached the postseason.

Unanimous Decisions

Both MVP winners received first-place votes from all voters, a rare display of consensus in baseball's award voting. Alvarez's .429 weighted on-base average and .442 expected wOBA were both the best in the league, while his .636 expected slugging suggested some extra base hits were taken away by quality defense or bad luck.

Crow-Armstrong's victory was particularly noteworthy as it came in the same league as Ohtani, who had previously won three consecutive MVP awards. Both players are expected to be top candidates for the 2027 MVP awards, assuming there is a season.