Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez was named the American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday evening.
The announcement followed a stellar 2026 campaign that saw the slugger lead his club to a division title and a postseason appearance, “according to Last Word on Sports.”
Tampa Bay Rays standout Junior Caminero finished second in the balloting, while Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. placed third.
Witt, now 26, concluded his fifth major league season as a finalist for the prestigious award.
Despite missing out on the trophy, the shortstop maintained his reputation as a consistent force in the Kansas City lineup.
The young star has been a frequent presence in award discussions since his career began, “as noted by Last Word on Sports.”
During the 2026 season, Witt batted .281 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs.
While those numbers represented a decline from his 32-home run performance in 2024, he still earned his third All-Star selection.
He was also named the starting shortstop for the American League for the first time in his career.
Witt is currently chasing history, as he aims to become just the second player in Royals history to win an MVP award.
The only other player to accomplish the feat was George Brett, who won the honor in 1980 while leading the team to the World Series, “according to Baseball-Reference.”
The Royals organization has struggled to maintain long-term success since their 2015 championship run.
After a promising postseason appearance in 2024, the team failed to return to the playoffs this year.
The club even opted to sell players at the trade deadline, including the move of Kris Bubic, “as reported by Last Word on Sports.”
Despite the team’s broader challenges, Witt remains the centerpiece of the franchise.
He is expected to remain in the mix for major honors as he looks to return the Royals to contention in 2027.